Northfield police chief takes leave, officials say

The Northfield Police Department is under the direction of an acting chief with longtime Chief Bill Lustig reportedly on leave for an indefinite length of time.

Northfield Village Manager Patrick Brennan confirmed that Lustig recently took a voluntary leave of absence but declined to comment further.

Deputy Chief Michael Hutensky is acting chief of police until further notice, Brennan said. Hutensky has been with the Northfield police force for more than 20 years and held the positions of corporal and sergeant before his current post.

Lustig has served as Northfield’s police chief since 2000. He began with the department in 1981, the same year he was appointed to start the Officer Friendly program, which aims to build relationships between police and Northfield’s youth. Lustig is a graduate of Evanston Township High School and lives in Northfield.

Lustig also took leave in 2021 in what officials described as a medical leave. It is unclear if Lustig’s current leave is related to the leave three years ago.

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