Chief Thomas Yehl (pictured below at center) of the Rock Valley College Police Department was one of several law enforcement executives from across the state to participate in the course Enduring, Surviving, and Thriving as a Law Enforcement Executive hosted by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute. The executive course for new police chiefs was held in September in East Peoria, Illinois.

This new chiefs of police orientation included concepts, strategies, and information to guide law enforcement executives in effectively managing and leading the organization. Chief Yehl received training on various subjects, including legal issues, mandated requirements of Illinois law enforcement agencies, recruitment and retention, state and federal resources, and political realities.

“While I have been in law enforcement for nearly three decades, this course has enhanced my knowledge and given me more tools to be successful in my role as RVC Police Chief,” said Chief Thomas Yehl.

Chief Yehl has been with RVC’s Police Department since April 2020. At that time, he served as the Deputy Chief under then Chief Rick Jenks. Chief Yehl assumed the role of RVC Police Chief on October 1, 2021.

According to Rick Jenks, RVC’s Vice President of Operations, “Chief Yehl has been an exceptional addition to our department. While moving into his new role as chief last year, Chief Yehl continued policy and procedure development and the pursuit of accreditation for the department.”

Chief Yehl received his Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Criminal and Social Justice Administration from Lewis University. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He worked for a municipal department in DuPage County for 27 years and held several positions. He was also a member of the Felony Investigation Action Team as an investigator as well as an investigator with the DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force. He began his policing career in higher education at a community college in Cook County as an Administrative Sergeant. His certifications include; certified field training officer, certified firearms instructor, certified use of force options instructor, certificate in managing an investigative unit, and certificate in property and evidence unit manager. Chief Yehl is the State of Illinois Chapter President for the National Association of Safety and Campus Administrators (NASCA).

“This valuable training has enabled me to connect with fellow police chiefs as well as representatives from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, and state and federal prosecutors,” added Yehl. “We were able to discuss critical issues directly affecting law enforcement in the state of Illinois.”

Founded in 1992, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute guides the professional development of managers and leaders in the law enforcement community. Located at Western Illinois University, the Executive Institute addresses the numerous challenges that today’s law enforcement administrators face and those that will emerge as important issues during the next decade and beyond.

 

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