The Village of Gurnee is excited to announce that Trustee Kevin Woodside has been selected by the Gurnee Days Committee to be the 2022 Gurnee Days Honoree.

For nearly 50 years, a deserving individual or couple has been selected to be honored during the annual Gurnee Days Celebration. This honor is presented only to those who have provided a meaningful contribution to the community while being a resident of the Village for over 10 years.

Kevin Woodside began serving the Village of Gurnee in 1988 as a police officer. Through his leadership as he progressed through the ranks, he established the Visitor Oriented Policing Team, introduced the lateral hiring of police officers and developed the Body-Worn Camera Program. He also introduced TASER conducted electrical weapons and established the consolidated dispatch center with the City of Zion. In 2011, Kevin was appointed to the position of Police Chief and continued to serve until his retirement in January 2019.

After he retired from the Gurnee Police Department, Kevin desired to continue to serve and became a Village Trustee in 2021. Kevin also contributes his time and resources by serving as a long-time member of the Gurnee Exchange Club, including two terms as President, and is a member of the Board of Directors of PADS Lake County. Kevin has been active in the church that he and his wife Cathy have attended for the past 20 years, serving on the Board of Elders and volunteering with the food pantry and other ministries.

At Monday night’s Village Board meeting, the Gurnee Village Board issued a proclamation honoring Kevin, thus proclaiming that Friday, August 5, 2022 be recognized as “Kevin Woodside Day” throughout the Village of Gurnee. Mayor Tom Hood went on to say, “Kevin has made and continues to make a profound impact on Gurnee in a multitude of ways through his commitment to service and community betterment. Kevin Woodside is a stellar example of the very best of Gurnee and a reflection of the values of the community that we all call home.”

Kevin will be honored at the Gurnee Days Honoree Reception on Friday, August 5^th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Warren Township Center. He will also be the Parade Marshal for the Gurnee Days Parade taking place on Sunday, August 7^th at noon on Old Grand Ave.