Silva officially takes reins of Kenilworth PD

Kenilworth’s acting top cop is now officially slated to be the next leader of the village’s police department.

Village trustees during their Tuesday, Dec. 9 meeting approved a measure appointing Donicio Silva as the next chief of police in Kenilworth.

Silva, according to village documents, began serving as Kenilworth’s acting chief on Sept. 1 of this year and he will officially step into the role on Jan. 1.

An employee of the village for nearly four years, Silva had previously served as a patrol commander and operations commander for the Oak Park Police Department across his more than two dozen years with the suburb. Additionally, Silva has held several positions with the U.S. Army.

According to a village memo included in the meeting’s packet, Silva is currently pursuing a master’s degree of public administration from University of Illinois at Chicago.

“Due to his successful career, advanced education, and support from the Department, Donicio Silva possesses the skills and ability to lead the Department in the Police Chief role,” the memo reads.

Silva took the reins of the department following the retirement of his predecessor Bryan Carlson. As reported by The Record, Carlson announced his departure from the position in mid-July of this year.

Carlson was sworn in as Kenilworth’s police chief in early 2023 following the retirement of David Miller in 2022, The Record reported. Prior to that, Carlson worked his way up the ranks of the department over 27 years of service.

While honoring Carlson earlier this year, village officials noted his 30 years of service can only be outnumbered by six other officers in the history of the village’s police department.

Moments before voting on the meeting’s consent agenda, which the measure to approve Silva’s status appeared on, Village President Cecily Kaz thanked him for his service thus far as acting chief.

“It’s been wonderful to work with him in that capacity,” Kaz said, later adding an official welcome to Silva.

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