Success comes to each of us in differing circumstances and endeavors, but usually only after a steady diet of grit and determination. It’s been said many times that necessity is the mother of invention, which would indicate that when your back is against the wall, the human spirit to overcome is born, and a little push from a few good friends doesn’t hurt either. 

He was born on June 22, 1957, at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria IL to Margaret and Jim Maurer who had no cause to suspect their new son Steven would later have such a profound positive impact on the nearly six thousand citizens of Chillicothe. His family also included one brother Dan and two sisters Kim and Chris. His grade school years were in Des Moines, Iowa and they moved to Chillicothe in 1972. 

As a sophomore, he excelled in football and wrestling and eventually was the Captain of both at the Varsity level. With his very positive and outgoing personality, he made many friends very quickly. After graduating in 1976 from CHS, the last class, and a stint at ICC with a degree in Agriculture, he walked on at Western Illinois University to wrestle but suffered a knee injury and came home. Hungry for work, Steve joined Mike Hench Builders as a construction carpenter from 1976 to 1979 and helped build about 40 new homes in Hopewell Estates and around. 

As he slowly fell in love with our small river town and its people, he felt he could make a contribution and a difference so he applied for and became, after eight weeks of training at The Police Academy, Patrolman 1st Class Steve Maurer, age 22. Not too long  on the force, he performed CPR on a man and saved his life; it was his first time and he said, “It makes you feel good inside.” 

Always active in sports, Steve played and coached recreational football in Peoria and Detweiller Park on the Chilli Dogs football team for 20 years, which had a record of 184 wins and only 14 defeats in their run. He was a certified and patched referee and umpire for adult and youth sports. Steve was an assistant wrestling coach at IVC and coached for 20 years at the JFL level. He loved to guide and inspire young athletes and help further their development. Scotty Shultz, Tim Ladd, and Zack Schroeder are just a few that Steve worked with. Mentors for Steve were Bill Prather, M Myers, J Myers, and Ilion, Sharon, and Sid Crabel. 

Then fate stepped in and in 1982, Mayor Fislar hired him as Police Chief of Chillicothe and for the next 31 years, 25-year-old Steve Maurer had the wheel—he was at that time the youngest Chief in Illinois. He wanted to always be available to the public and relate to their concerns 24 /7. He set into place a laid-back, relaxed, and fair style, which mirrored his likeable personality, and relied heavily on nine very capable officers, who one year had the lowest percentage of crime and the highest conviction rate in Peoria County. 

As chief, his time became a commodity to area organizations; he helped to install a neighborhood watch program, was Secretary of the Peoria County Chiefs, was chairman of the board of Crimestoppers, and was highly involved in Claud-Elen Days as well as The Optimist Club and Rotary just to name a few. You name it, he was on it. He was the ultimate hands-on guy who found it hard to turn people away, and in some cases, his private and family life suffered. But job and duty came first while sleepless nights, pressures, anxiety, and stress were by-products and in all this time he kept it inside, not wanting to burden his family or show weakness to his friends. How many other Chiefs across our nation know that reality? “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”

In the later part of Steve’s years as Chief in Chillicothe, he felt the need to ease his pain with increased consumption of adult beverages, only to see that his life and career were what was being consumed by it and he refers to this period as the Dark Time in the Dark Place. During this period, his family bought him a new best friend, a dog, and he said, “Dewey kept me alive through the Dark time.” 

After nearly 32 years, he resigned from his post and blamed no one but himself. In 2012, he opened the doors of the Methodist Church and now says he reads the Bible every day. And wouldn’t you know it, a second chance was offered by the Henry Illinois City Council and Mayor Doug Wilson to Steve for Chief of Police, and the vote was unanimous. While there, he served one year at IDOT and nine fulfilling years as Chief. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” True success is not given it is earned. Thank You to the best city in Illinois by a dam site.

In Steve’s 42-year career, he served under 14 Mayors and 135 Alderman and even today, he helps with the 4th of July events and a fundraiser and Home Coming Bon Fire, not to mention all his contributions of help on the board of the Chillicothe Park District. As usual, he is right in the middle of things today because he still knows that where people are is where it’s at. 

Three good ladies helped him through the dark times and will always have his back, why? Because they know he is a very good man who cares. There should not be any doubt that his parents, Margaret and Jim, are very pleased with Steve’s services to his fellow citizens. We must ask ourselves now, is Steve Maurer, knowing his body of work as a peacemaker and servant of the people, a hero? We all have crosses to bear and have stumbled at least once in our lives, even heroes. There have been and always will be heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature, and now one of the finest Police Chiefs of our town to wear the uniform, Steve Maurer joins those ranks. Thank you, Steve, for your very best you gave to so many.