John E. McGann, 64, of Belvidere, a former Wood Dale police officer and the youngest man to run the department, died of cancer Wednesday, Aug. 29, in St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. Mr. McGann joined the Wood Dale department in 1960 and was promoted to sergeant 10 months later. In 1964, he reached the rank of lieutenant, and three years later, at 29, was named chief, a position he held until in 1970. “At the same time, he was a Wood Dale firefighter,” said his son Tim. Mr. McGann then soon signed on as a patrol officer with Itasca police. He stayed with the department until 1975. “He was a man with a sense of humor 10 miles wide,” his son said. “He had some great stories to tell, including one about how he used a squad car to pin a robber in a telephone booth.” Born in Chicago, Mr. McGann moved to Texas after his police years. In Corpus Christi, he ran a scaffolding company and connected with the police department, where he worked in forensics, his son said. Mr. McGann’s interests included travel and fishing. Other survivors include his wife, Audrey; a daughter, Laurina McGann; two sons, John and Patrick; two grandsons; a brother, James; two sisters, Patricia McGann and Mary Eilrich; and nieces and nephews. Services have been held.
