Will County Gazette

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Village of Woodridge Board welcomed Officer Luke Boda to the police department, with officials speaking about his character and expressing their excitement for him to be a part of the community.

“Well, we welcome you and we know you've had a very busy day, but we thank you for stepping right in and with the fire and warmth that you have, and helping and making the difference here in our community,” Mayor Gina Cunningham said. “Just wonderful news. Joining a great team. We were very, very fortunate in Woodridge to have such excellent policing and service and professionalism. So we welcome you to the team and thank you so much and thank you for being here, officers tonight to join in support. And we appreciate it very much. And we're looking forward to a wonderful career here in Woodridge.”

Boda started with the police department in January 2022, then attended the police academy in Champaign Urbana where he was recognized for his abilities and connections with his peers. He grew up in Chicago and moved to Park Ridge. After high school, in 2009 Boda entered the U.S. Army Reserves where he earned the rank of sergeant in the military police. He was deployed three times –  to Afghanistan and twice to Guantanamo Bay to work in the prison. He also has experience working in corrrections and private security.

Chief Brian Cunningham spoke highly to his character and professionalism during the board meeting.

“On his graduation day, that is kind of when I noticed Luke was special,” Cunningham said that at the Police Academy graduation he had a line of people just waiting to meet Boda and introduce to family. “Right away I thought, this kid has got to be something special.”

Boda thanked Cunningham for his words and expressed his happiness for being on the Woodridge police force.

“I'll say the same thing that I said when I first got sworn in here: I'm happy for the opportunity to work for Woodridge,” Boda said to the board. “Everyone, the officers, the people that I meet, they've all been extremely kind, willing to work, willing to show me, teach me. And like you said, there's like seven of them right now handling my case, back in the department. So they all smiled when I said that I had to come here. But I appreciate everything that everyone's taught me and then the opportunity as well. And I look forward to having a fulfilling career here.”