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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE CAREER AND HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF MARTIN HASLER
WHEREAS, on March 7, 1983, Martin (Marty) Hasler was sworn in as patrol officer for the City of Berwyn, Illinois and over the next thirty (30) years, moved up the ranks from Detective, to Sergeant, to Watch Commander, to Division Commander; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Marty worked as a Law Enforcement Professional with Engility Corporation and was deployed to Afghanistan where he trained the United States Army and the Afghan National Army on law enforcement-based operations; and
WHEREAS, upon returning from Afghanistan, Marty joined the Forest Preserves of Cook County in 2014 as Deputy Commander for the Department of Law Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, as Deputy Commander, Marty supervised sergeants and officers, managed the Field Training Program, conducted Internal Affairs Investigations and served as the Command Staff Supervisor of the FPCC-PD Investigations Unit. He managed law enforcement support for the Forest Preserves’ biggest events, including Maple Syrup Festival, Fall Festival, Freese Memorial Paddle, Des Plaines Canoe and Kayak Marathon, Share the Trails, Native American Pow Wow, Jewish Festival, World’s Largest Stepper Event, Ragnar Relay Race, and Elk Grove Village Bike Club Pit-Stops; and
WHEREAS, Marty led a years-long effort to update all Forest Preserves’ law enforcement policies and procedures and handled this difficult process with a steady hand and an open mind, listening carefully and balancing a broad range of concerns to ensure that officers have the information they need to act professionally and fairly while protecting district lands and keeping visitors safe; and
WHEREAS, Marty helped launch and build the Trail Watch program that trains volunteers to be a visible presence and make visitors to the preserves feel safe and welcome; and
WHEREAS, in addition to serving as the Forest Preserves’ representative to the City of Chicago Hate Crime Coalition, Marty was also a founding member of the Forest Preserves’ Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Committee and later helped establish the Police REDI team; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, Marty was promoted to First Deputy Chief of Police for the Forest Preserves’ Department of Law Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Marty helped build a culture of trust between the Forest Preserves’ police and residents visiting the preserves. In an annual survey conducted by Penn & Associates, visitors to the forest preserves are asked to rate police based on their knowledge, professionalism, and whether they are easy to approach, helpful and friendly and customers consistently give very positive ratings to the Forest Preserves’ police; and
WHEREAS, after forty (40) years of honorable public service, on May 30, 2025, Marty Hasler retired as the First Deputy Chief of Police for the Forest Preserves of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, in the words of Chief of Police, Theresa Odum, “We thank Marty for the positive impact he has had on the Forest Preserves and for his devotion and service to the people of Cook County. We wish him a long and happy retirement.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that President, Toni Preckwinkle, along with the members of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners, and on behalf of all citizens of Cook County, do hereby thank Marty Hasler on a long career of public service and thank him for his many contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Marty Hasler in recognition of his career, contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and his commitment to public service.end