Obituaries

Fred Hayes, Former Police Chief, Dead at 75

Hayes worked for the Romeoville Police Department for 25 years, and would go on to become village manager.

Fred Hayes, who started his Romeoville law enforcement career as a volunteer and would eventually serve as its chief for 17 years, has died at the age of 75.

While he was best known for his long tenure with the police department, Hayes also served as the village's director of public safety and village manager before leaving for a series of police chief jobs in Florida, according to a story in the Joliet Herald News. He was also elected president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in 1980.

At the time of his death from throat cancer on Sept. 22, he was retired and living in The Villages, Fla.

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His son, Fred Hayes Jr., followed him into police work and is currently the police chief in Elwood.

“He never drilled police work into me,” Hayes told the Herald News. “My dad was my super hero. I always wanted to be like him.”

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In addition to his son, Hayes is survived by his wife Cathering "Kitty"; children Kelly Hayes, Maureen Fox and Thomas Hayes; six grandchildren; brother Ken Hayes; and sisters Cathy Wright and Janet Sheldon.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Anderson Memorial Chapel, 606 Townhall Drive, Romeoville. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 505 Kingston Drive, Romeoville. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162.


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