At the age of 25-years old, Jesse Goldsmith was sworn in as a Village of Vernon Hills Police Officer on April 14, 1991. On June 2, 2008, Jesse passed away after a second massive heart attack at the age of 42.

During his career, Officer Goldsmith trained as part of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System's (N.I.P.A.S.) elite entry team, worked as a traffic enforcement officer, a tactical officer, a detective, a field training officer for new recruits, and helped train fellow officers as a firearms instructor.

In 2006, Jesse was recognized by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (A.A.I.M.) for DUI enforcement. In 2004, he received the Department's Meritorious Service Award for Life Saving when he assisted a man who crashed into the police station after suffering a heart attack.

Jesse will always be remembered by his friends and fellow officers as an avid outdoorsman while off duty and the consummate professional while at work. Several officers have jokingly remarked, "If things really went bad, first you grabbed Jesse, then you got your gun."

Gone, but never forgotten, Jesse's badge has been retired by the Department and his legacy for always being willing to lend a helping hand will live on in us all.

Jesse, from all your brothers and sisters at the Vernon Hills Police Department, we love you and may you rest in eternal peace.

The Jesse Goldsmith Scholarship Fund has been created to benefit college bound Vernon Hills residents. This was a pet project of Jesse's that never quite got off the ground; after his passing, fellow officers made it happen in order to allow Jesse's vision to come to fruition. E-mail us to find out more information if you are interested in donating to the Fund.