Former Kewanee Police Chief Joseph T. Dakin, 85, of Springfield, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Dakin, 85, served as Kewanee police chief from August of 1994 until August of 2002.
Mayor Gary Moore was a sergeant on the police force during Dakin’s tenure as chief. He said the news of Dakin’s passing “came as a shock to me.”
Moore said, “He brought a lot of knowledge to our department. He kept the department moving in the right direction.”
The mayor recalled that Dakin “always kept an open-door policy,” and added, “That’s all a police officer can ask for — to always have access to your leadership.”
Dakin had a bachelor’s degree in police administration public safety from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Illinois University. He had been police chief in Carbondale and worked as a beat cop in Lansing, Mich. and Oakland, Calif., among other law enforcement positions. He had also been director of the Illinois State Police training academy for several years.
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church and a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He is survived by his wife, Jodi Dakin of Springfield; four children; and seven grandsons.
Butler Funeral Home and Cremation Tribute Center in Springfield is in charge of arrangements.
Further information is available from the funeral home at 217-544-4646.
