The Village Board approved the appointment of John Combs as Chief of Police at the June 2 Board meeting. Combs began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a Corrections Officer with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department before joining the Village of Wauconda Police Department in 1998. Over his career, he has advanced through roles including Patrol Officer, K9 Officer, Sergeant of Patrol, Detective Sergeant, and Deputy Chief of Police.
As Deputy Chief, Combs oversaw investigations and supervised personnel for a department with more than 40 employees, including 35 full-time and part-time sworn officers. He played a role in strategic planning, budget development, operational management, capital improvement projects, and fiscal responsibility. His responsibilities also included managing critical incidents and large-scale events, participating in labor negotiations, overseeing discipline and hiring processes, and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders.
Kristan Kolar will fill the deputy chief vacancy created by Combs’ promotion. Kolar joined the Wauconda Police Department in 2004 and most recently served as Commander. She was also a Special Investigator for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force from 2016 to 2020, where she investigated over 45 homicides as well as other major cases. In October 2020, she was promoted to Sergeant on the afternoon shift in the Patrol Division; by April 2023 she became Detective Sergeant in the Investigations Division; then promoted to Commander in September 2024.
Heather Cognac succeeds Kolar as commander after serving as sergeant since 2021—most recently as Detective Sergeant—and has been with Wauconda Police Department since 2002. Cognac’s experience includes positions such as Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Evidence Technician, Juvenile Officer, and Public Information Officer for both her department and since 2020 for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
Combs, Kolar, and new sergeant Nick Weglarek were sworn into their new positions on June 2 before the Village Board alongside community members and families. Mayor Sode stated that he, along with the Village Board and Village Clerk, are proud of this new leadership team. Commander Cognac will be sworn in at the June 15 meeting.
