Family members and area friends attended a memorial service yesterday for former Rochelle Police Chief Ken Woolbright. Ken passed away on May 22nd in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He was 64 years old.
Woolbright started his law enforcement career with the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department before 27 years as an officer in Rochelle. He was police chief for 7 years prior to his retirement.
Woolbright was also interim police chief in Sandwich for 3 months as he helped his good friend Rick Olson who is the mayor of the community. Both Woolbright and Olson worked together for many years while with the Rochelle Police Department.
Woolbright moved to Arkansas following his retirement.
During the service, it was mentioned that a “Chiefs Scholarship” is going to be established at Kishwaukee Community College in Malta in the near future. It will be named after former Rochelle Police Chiefs Winston Brass, Rob Buck, and Ken Woolbright.