ILACP Executive Committee
(formerly known as the Board of Officers)

Chief Barden grew up in Zion, was a graduate of Central Jr. High, and graduated from Zion-Benton Township High School.

Chief Barden has attended a number of specialized schools most notably the DEA investigator course and Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety – School of Police Staff and Command.

Chief Barden looks forward to the challenges as Chief of Police with some new and continuing initiatives to include, leading a charge in combating crime through the use of technology as well as establishing meaningful relationships within the community to promote stronger and clearer communication working towards a common goal.

Kirk Brueggeman began his law enforcement career with the O'Fallon Police Department in 1999.  Over the past 24 years, he has served the city of O'Fallon in many roles culminating in his appointment to Director of Public Safety / Chief of Police in November 2021.  As the Director of Public Safety, he oversees a full time EMS division, a volunteer fire department,  a consolidated communication center (MECOMM), and the O'Fallon Police Department with 50 Sworn Officers.   Brueggeman holds a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Lindenwood University.  He is also a graduate of Class 460 of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. 

Brueggeman currently serves on the executive board for the Southern Illinois Chiefs of Police Association.  He is a board member for the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, SILEC Advisory Board, and Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois.  He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the O’Fallon Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 198.

Brueggeman and his wife Maura have been married for 24 years and have three children.

Darren Gault

Chief Darren Gault was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the City of Moline, Illinois, on July 31, 2019. With more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, Chief Gault has built a distinguished career grounded in leadership, community engagement, and regional collaboration. Prior to his appointment in Moline, he served with the East Moline Police Department, where he rose through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Captain, before being selected as Moline’s Chief of Police. Throughout his career, Chief Gault has held a wide range of assignments, including Patrol Officer, Detective, Special Federal Officer assigned to the FBI Quad Cities Federal Gang Task Force, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Detective Commander, and Captain. His commitment to public safety and professional excellence has earned him numerous honors, including the Crime Fighter of the Year Award in 2003, Exchange Club Officer of the Year Award in 2007 and ISPA Law Enforcement Official of the Year in 2025.

In addition to his law enforcement service, Chief Gault dedicated a decade to higher education as a criminal justice instructor at Black Hawk College from 2007 through 2017. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Coe College and a Master of Organizational Leadership from St. Ambrose University. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Class 2017. Chief Gault is a Certified Police Chief through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a Certified Sport Security Professional through the University of Southern Mississippi.

A respected leader at both the state and national levels, Chief Gault currently serves as 2nd Vice President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He previously served as Vice President for Region 2 from 2021 to 2025 and remains actively involved with the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a member of the Community Policing Committee and as the Illinois State Association Representative. Chief Gault’s commitment to service extends throughout the Quad Cities region and beyond. He serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, including the Community Emergency Services Support Act Regional Advisory Committee for Region 2, the Rock Island County Electronic Telephone Systems Board, the QC Open Network Board, the Youth Coordinated Assessment Program Advisory Committee, and the Eastern Iowa Community College and Black Hawk College Criminal Justice Advisory Boards. He is also Chairman of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Enforcement Group and an active member of Rotary International’s Moline Chapter.

Among his many leadership roles, Chief Gault is a Past President of the FBI National Academy Associates Illinois Chapter, Railsplitters Division, and a longtime former member of the Quad Cities Rush Soccer Board of Directors. 

 

IMMEDIATE PRESIDENT 2025-2026 

JOE LEONAS
Joe Leonas became the Chief of Police for the Village of Lincolnshire, Illinois in 2016.

He began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Village of Bartlett, Illinois. Over the course of his 26-year career, he held various positions including: Detective, Crime Prevention Officer, School Resource Officer, Sergeant, Investigations Commander, and Deputy Chief.

Leonas also served as the Case Management Commander on the Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) – a homicide task force comprised of over 22 police agencies in Cook County – and was responsible for the development of MCAT’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team.

Leonas graduated from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in English and received his master's degree from Western Illinois University in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. Leonas also graduated from Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff & Command, as well as the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Leonas has instructed police officers since 1998 in many areas, including: homicide investigations, juvenile justice, police applicant backgrounds, leadership & management, and internal affairs. In addition to teaching for the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Leonas is an adjunct professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Leonas also taught at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA), Northeast Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT), Aurora University, and the College of DuPage.

Leonas currently serves as the President on the Executive Board of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association, Secretary on the Advisory Board of Directors for North East Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT), and Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT). 

Here is a Link to the map of the three ILACP At-Large regions

VICE PRESIDENT AT-LARGE  (REGION 3)

Michael Kuruvilla