Dec. 20--A 24-year veteran of the Oak Brook Police Department, Albert Ceren Jr. was the village's police chief during a period of remarkable growth and change for the western suburb.
"It was a time when Oak Brook was shifting from being a small country department in both police and fire," said Karen Bushy, a former village president who also served as a trustee liaison to the police and fire departments. "Al Ceren was the first chief who started to move Oak Brook into what I would call a highly skilled metropolitan police force. Al Ceren was the chief who made that bridge."
Ceren, 85, died of a heart attack on Dec. 5, 2015, in a daughter's home in Downers Grove, according to another daughter, Robin Demos. The former Hinsdale resident moved to Bumpus Mills, Tenn., after retirement, but moved to Downers Grove about six years ago.
Born in Berwyn and raised there and in La Grange, he graduated from Lyons Township High School. He earned an associate degree from the College of DuPage, a bachelor's degree from Lewis University and a master's degree in public administration from Roosevelt University.
"He did that while he was working full time on the police force and raising five children," Demos said.
Ceren served in the U.S. Army. After leaving the service, a friend who was with the Brookfield Police Department encouraged him to apply there and he was hired in 1954. He left Brookfield to join the Oak Brook department in 1962.
A friend, George Graves, thought that could have been a risky career move. "I thought he took a chance for a brand-new department," he said.
But the move paid off, as Ceren moved up through the ranks, becoming sergeant in 1963, lieutenant in 1971 and chief in 1974. He retired 12 years later.
James Fleming worked as Ceren's assistant for several years before succeeding him as chief. "He taught me a lot about management and leadership," Fleming said. "It was enjoyable and he taught me a lot about administration and running a police department -- the budgeting, the personnel issues you have to deal with.
"I tried to emulate him," said Fleming, who was chief from 1986 to 1996.
At one time, the Police Department also operated the village's ambulance service. But Ceren believed the ambulance service was a better fit with the Fire Department and helped work out an agreement for the Fire Department to take over the ambulance service, Fleming recalled. At the same time, the Police Department took over the task of dispatching fire and ambulance calls in addition to police calls.
Fleming said Ceren also played a key role in moving the Police Department into a new police station.
Bushy said the new station included a firing range in the lower level, all part of Ceren's efforts to upgrade training and facilities.
Beyond his management skills, Ceren cared about the people in his department. Demos said she heard from several people on "how well he supported his men, both on the job and in their personal lives."
Other survivors include three daughters, Beverly Marshall, Laura Duzinskas and Dawn; a son, Albert III; two brothers, John, also known as "Tim," and Peter; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
His wife, Billie, died in 2010.
Services were held.
Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter.
