Chief Lustig’s legacy saluted in Northfield

Bill Lustig’s 40-year career in law enforcement, including 23 years as Northfield’s police chief, was honored by the community he served Wednesday evening at Clarkson Park.

Lustig, who had been a Northfield police officer since 1981, retired in October 2024 and on Wednesday, June 25, months of planning by the Lustig Legacy Committee culminated at the Clarkson Park bandshell with a public celebration of the chief and his career.

Tom Whittaker, a Northfield village trustee and the chair of the Lustig Legacy Committee, praised the chief as a “fine man” and said that Lustig had introduced Whittaker to his wife, Cindy, 35 years ago.

Cindy Whittaker wrote a tribute to Lustig, which her husband read, in which she recognized his “legacy of integrity, compassion and leadership.”

“For more than four decades, Chief Bill Lustig stood as a pillar of strength, wisdom and dedication in the Northfield community,” she wrote. “His career was not just about enforcing the law; it was about building trust, protecting dignity and making Northfield a place where everyone felt safe, heard and valued.”

Whittaker also praised Lustig’s “calm presence during times of crisis, his willingness to listen, and his tireless efforts to ensure that the Northfield Police Department reflected the values of fairness, transparency and community care.”

“As Chief Lustig steps back from the role he filled so faithfully, we honor not just a career, but a calling fulfilled,” she wrote. “Northfield is stronger, safer and more connected because of him. Thank you, Chief Lustig, for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering dedication. You will always be part of this community’s story.”

Tom Whittaker also read a letter from current Police Chief Mike Hutensky, who reportedly could not attend the celebration.

“During his tenure as chief, Bill saw the police department through a number of significant challenges, but whether it was a major emergency or just day-to-day operations, Bill always led us with a steady hand and a laser focus on what was absolutely paramount — the residents of Northfield,” Hutensky wrote.

He also called Lustig a “pioneer” for promoting community policing long before it became a common practice among police departments and his work with the Officer Friendly program.

“I once jokingly asked Bill where he keeps all the extra Bills, because it just didn’t seem possible that one person could be doing everything he was,” Hutensky wrote. “But while I found what Bill was doing to be extraordinary, for Bill, it was easy because he was doing what he loved.”

Officials also announced Wednesday that the lodge at Clarkson Park will be dedicated to the former chief. It is now known as the Lustig Lodge.

Northfield Park Board President Bridget Kennedy said that fittingly the lodge has been a popular place for community celebrations.

Lustig’s daughter, Pearson Lustig, said she saw firsthand how hard her father worked for Northfield.

“(He worked) late nights, early mornings and in moments where most of us would have taken a break,” Pearson Lustig said. “But he kept going, not just because it was his job, but because he truly cares. He cares about safety, he cares about fairness, and most of all, he cares about this community.”

When it was Bill Lustig’s turn to speak, he thanked the park district for the celebration and the community for being there.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for me,” he said of the celebration. “After 44 years of doing this, I thought I’d just keep going and going and going. But obviously, that wasn’t going to happen.”

Lustig reflected on what the chief who hired him once said.

“When I started here, the chief back then said, ‘Before you leave for the day, you make sure that everybody’s tucked in and safe,’” Lustig said. “I tucked a lot of people in the last 44 years, I’ll tell you that, too. This community became part of my soul, part of my body, and I was always worried and concerned about it.”

“But most of all, I want to thank you, all of you, for inviting me into your homes, into your lives. … Thank you all. I love you.”

Lustig retired following a medical leave in 2024 and while he voluntarily retired according to his retirement agreement, he told The Record at the time that the Village encouraged his retirement and the two eventually came to terms, including a final payout of more than $200,000.

Speaking with The Record after the celebration, Lustig said he considers himself lucky to have served for 40 years.

“I got to see four generations of Northfield kids grow up, get married and move back, go to college, and it was like one big family watching them all,” he said. “It was wonderful. It was like a storybook adventure for me.

“It was a privilege working for this great community, and watching the Northfield people and being a part of their lives. It was great.”

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