Former VBT Public Safety Director Elg named chief in Tequesta

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
On Saturday, the Village of Tequesta, FL issued a press release announcing it had chosen Christopher Elg as its next police chief and after the council votes on his employment agreement at its January meeting, Elg would begin work Feb. 4.
Elg, who served as Van Buren Township Public Safety Director from 2001 to 2003, currently is police chief in West Monroe, LA.
He made front page news in three states in December by being a finalist in three police chief job openings. Tequesta was his fourth finalist position, which was not widely publicized.
Elg has been police chief in West Monroe, LA since 2004 and has worked as a police chief or public safety director for the past 17 years. He has 28 years of law enforcement experience, beginning as a New York state trooper.
“We are lucky to have been selected to be a part of their community,” Elg said of Tequesta. “The kids are excited because we are 5 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and only two hours from Walt Disney World.
“My family and what we will be able to do as a family in south Florida was one of the biggest factors in our decision to relocate,” Elg said on Sunday.
“Additionally, it is 45 degrees here today and 67 there so we seem to have done well on a number of counts!” Elg said from his West Monroe home.
Tequesta in a 2.2-square-mile incorporated village in Palm Beach County, FL, with 21% of that water. Population was 5,629 in the 2010 census. Officials had conducted a nationwide search for its new police chief.
Football great Joe Namath is among Tequesta’s notable residents.
On Dec. 18, Elg was offered the job of police chief for Bismarck, ND, which he declined.
Meanwhile that same week, he was named one of three finalists for the job of police chief of South Bend, IN and was already one of six top candidates for chief of Bellingham, WA. On Dec. 20, Bellingham chose a candidate from Vancouver, WA.
After getting word he was being chosen in Tequesta, he withdrew from South Bend consideration.
Elg and his wife Roseanne have three children. Their son Eric is 13 and the twins, Langley and Isabella, are 8.
The Tequesta news release said, “Chief Elg is a highly sought-after candidate who has a proven record of extensive demonstrated leadership skills and management of law enforcement agencies.
“Additionally, Chief Elg serves as Special Agent in the US Coast Guard, holds two masters degrees, is an adjunct instructor for graduate courses in Homeland Security, emergency management, criminal justice and fire-science, and is involved with state and national police leadership associations.”
Elg resigned from West Monroe on Friday and its news release listed Elg’s accomplishments as chief, including the completion of 18 classes of the Citizens’ Police Academy with over 400 citizens having graduated, three national reaccreditations of the department each one better than the last, and the department being recognized as a Best Practices agency in the use of social media.