SILVIS, Ill. (KWQC) - Silvis Police Chief Mark VanKlaveren has spent a decade making sure residents see their officers everywhere from crime scenes to back-to-school nights — giving kids high-fives and neighbors a familiar face — and now, after 23 years with the department, he is hanging up his badge and stepping into a new role: training the next generation of officers.

VanKlaveren has been chief for 10 years and said that in a world of social media, being a visible face in the community and ensuring trust has been one of his main goals.

“They want to see who their police officers are; they want them to be involved in more than just policing-type incidents and positive interactions,” VanKlaveren said. “I think we’ve tried to key in on that, letting people know that police are accessible

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