Did you ever wonder why the Roselle police vehicles all start with the number 7?
Sergeant Michael “Skip” McMurray, badge number 106, served the Roselle Police Department for 37 years, spending many of those years as fleet Sergeant. As fleet Sergeant, he oversaw the safe operations of the fleet and assured the officers had all the equipment they needed to serve our residents. Sergeant McMurray had wanted the fleet’s car numbers to have three digits, though policies did not allow this during his time with the RPD.
In 2013, policies changed and allowed the Roselle Police Department to add a third number to its vehicles. On January 28th, 2013, now-retired Deputy Chief Roman Tarchala and Chief of Police Steve Herron worked with fleet personnel and renumbered each car number to a three-digit number. Herron and Tarchala chose to have each car number start with the number 7, which is the sum of Sergeant McMurray’s badge number, 106. Sergeant McMurray passed away in 2017.
“Sergeant McMurray had a passion for the safety of our residents and took pride in every squad car he built. This is a small way in which we can acknowledge Sergeant McMurray passion and pride in our department and to the Village,” said Herron.
On March 22, 2023, the Roselle Police Department dedicated a plaque in remembrance of Sergeant McMurray and his passion and dedication for safe fleet operations, forever memorializing the reason each RPD vehicle starts with the number 7. Annamarie McMurray, wife of Sergeant McMurray, joined Retired Deputy Chief Roman Tarchala, Chief Steve Herron, Interim Chief Reinhard Eddington, Deputy Chief Shawn Kooistra, Deputy Chief Roberto Barreto for the dedication.
Sergeant McMurray’s dedication is one of Chief Herron’s final acts before his last day with the department.
Chief Herron will retire on March 23, 2023 after 11 years at the helm of the Roselle Police Department. During his time with the Roselle Police Department, Herron was responsible for overseeing a comprehensive analysis of the Department’s operations that led to the implementation of multiple enhancements its operations, including Roselle being one of the first communities in DuPage County to deploy body worn cameras; enhancing the Support Services Division to include social services and behavioral health counselors; and obtaining accreditation by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
"Chief Herron is a testament to his profession and the Roselle community and DuPage County have benefited greatly from his tenure and leadership,” said Roselle Mayor David Pileski. “The legacy of his work will continue through the staff he has mentored and supported driving a highly professional and engaged Police Department."
Former Roselle Chief of Police Richard Eddington will serve as Interim Chief effective March 24, 2023 and will assist the selection panel on its assessment of RPD’s Deputy Chiefs as candidates for the Chief of Police role.
Left to right: Interim Chief Richard Eddington, Deputy Chief Roberto Barreto, Annamarie McMurray, Retired Deputy Chief Roman Tarchala, Deputy Chief Shawn Kooistra and Chief Steve Herron