APCO International Past President Gregg Riddle died this morning, June 27, 2014 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The wake will be held Monday, June 30, from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Grove Memorial Chapel at 1199 S. Arlington Heights Rd., in Elk Grove Village.  The funeral will be Tuesday, July 1, at 10:00 a.m.

Riddle had a highly accomplished career in public safety spanning four decades, which he began as a paid-on-call firefighter in his home town of Harvey, Illinois. Following graduation from Northern Illinois University, he entered the fire service as a full time firefighter with the Elk Grove Village Fire Department. He became one of the first paramedics for the department in 1972. He progressed up through the ranks and retired after 30 years as the Deputy Fire Chief responsible for Administrative Operations. He was instrumental in building the Elk Grove FD Station 8 and renovating its FD Administration Center. Riddle’s final work assignment was with the West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center from 2000 to 2008 as its first executive director.

Riddle joined APCO International in 1981 and earned distinctions of Senior and Life Member. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the Board in 2008 and served his presidential year in 2011-12. While serving in many APCO posts, he led the initiative for wireless 9-1-1 funding in his State, and held a long tenure as the Executive Council Representative for the Illinois Chapter. He chaired the Management Committee of the Council for many years and also chaired the Constitution & Bylaws Committee. In his most recent post as chair of the Leadership Development Committee, Riddle forged consensus on a new scoring regimen to raise the qualifications threshold for officer candidates. Riddle was a graduate of APCO’s Registered Public-Safety Leadership (RPL) certificate program, which he helped develop. In honor of a lifetime of distinguished service, his colleagues honored him in 2013 by dedicating the APCO Executive Offices in Alexandria Virginia in his name. At the unveiling, Riddle said he regarded this tribute as the capstone of his career and credited his work with APCO International for much of his professional success.

Mr. Riddle is survived by his wife, Shay, brother David, sister Nancy and sons Bradley and Scott (and spouse Jennifer). He was surrounded by family during his final days who credit the many cards and letters from APCO colleagues for keeping Gregg’s spirits high.