Michael Kuruvilla is police chief of Brookfield, Ill

Michael Kuruvilla, a second generation Indian American, has been appointed as chief of police of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois. Kuruvilla, 38, who was deputy chief of police of the suburb of Chicago for the last two years, will assume charge next month.
In his command role as deputy chief, Kuruvilla already oversees patrol and investigations and serves as the secondary lead for the department, stepping in as acting chief during two major incidents while still a lieutenant. He served for six years as president of the police union before his promotion to lieutenant.
Kuruvilla said that police work has changed much from earlier days. Earlier, the police were concerned with law and order and crime. Now the police look into the both the background of the person who committed the crime and their mental status. These days social work and police work overlap in many areas.
Police officers always faced threats in their risky job, he said. It is their duty to protect others and the public.
Kuruvilla said that police work is good for younger people, though it is never easy. In the long term, they find that they may not get enough time to spend with their family. Yet, he said, the job gives them opportunity to help people, and the satisfaction gained is immense.
Kuruvilla was the first Indian American hired at Brookfield and the first officer in the department to complete crisis intervention training. He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois and served as a police crisis worker briefly before becoming an officer.
In addition, Kuruvilla is a board member and law enforcement liaison for a nonprofit that serves the needs of women victimized by human and sex trafficking rings.
‘My ability and the opportunity to provide someone who may be suffering and in pain, even just a moment of reprieve and peace, is important and fulfilling to me,’ he said.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has chosen Kuruvilla as one of its 40 Under 40 Award winners, as featured in the September 2020 issue of “Police Chief” magazine.
Kuruvilla was nominated for the award by Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak on the suggestion of Lt. James Mihalik. ‘I’m very proud of Mike,’ said Petrak in an email announcing the award. ‘This is a tremendous honor for both Mike and our police department.’
Kuruvilla is married to Sibil, a social worker. They have two children, Samuel and Micah.