Harseim ‘at peace’ with retirement

Although Chris Harseim had to pull his weapon many times over his long career in law enforcement, he never had to fire it.
“That’s just crazy to me, I’ve been lucky, very fortunate,” said Harseim, whose last day as chief of the Coal City Police Department is Friday. He’s been with the department since 1995 and served as chief since 2021, when Mayor Dave Spesia selected him to replace Tom Best.
Harseim, 57, started his 30-plus years in law enforcement with Coal City as a patrol officer, eventually becoming a sergeant, an investigator and a master firearms instructor – he still maintains an expert rating as a marksman. He also worked part-time as a police officer in his hometown of Morris from 1991 to 2021.
Advances in technology have made a significant impact in police work over the years, Harseim said, citing not just the use of body cameras but also geofencing, which enables investigators to search location data to determine if a suspect was in the area at the time a crime was committed.
It’s how Coal City police were able to find and arrest a suspect in a Christman Eve armed robbery case, the chief recalled.
Harseim said that despite periods when law enforcement officers sometimes contended with a negative perception by the public, the department has enjoyed a good relationship with Coal City residents.
“We always teach our officers to treat people with respect in order to get respect,” he said. “We want to make sure citizens have as positive an interaction (with police) as possible.”
Harseim said he hopes to work on his golf game during his retirement and may continue as a firearms instructor and enter competitive shooting events.
“Chief Harseim has dedicated an incredible 30 years of his life to serving the village of Coal City and its residents with unwavering commitment, exceptional leadership, and a deep sense of duty,” Mayor Spesia said at a village board meeting this month. Harseim’s career achievements include several awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Achievement Medal, the Medal of Gallantry, and several certificates and letters of commendation, the mayor said.
“I can honestly say I'm at peace,” the outgoing chief said. “I pretty much checked every box that I've ever wanted to do."
It’s expected that Deputy Chief Mike Imhoff will be appointed as Coal City’s next police chief at the village board of trustees meeting on May 14. Imhoff has been with the department full-time since 2013.