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

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). 

 

1st VICE PRESIDENT 

DAN RYAN

Chief Dan Ryan started his law enforcement path in 1995 as an Auxiliary Deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department. In 1996, he was hired as a Civil Process Server with Sangamon County and then as a Part-Time Officer in Pleasant Plains, IL. He was hired in 1997 as the Assistant Coordinator of Police Training with the Law Enforcement Training Advisory Commission. In 1998, Chief Ryan took over the duties of Police Training Coordinator for LETAC, where he still serves today. In the winter of 1998, Chief Ryan was selected as a part-time officer with the Leland Grove Police Department and, in February 1999, he was promoted to full-time status. Chief Ryan has since risen through the ranks to his current position.

Dan Ryan has been a member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police for many years and has served on the Education committee as well as the Training committee of this organization.

He has held or currently holds the following certifications: Firearms Instructor, Range Master Instructor, Patrol Rifle Instructor, Pressure Point Control Tactics Instructor, Law Enforcement Video Instructor, DUI Field Sobriety Instructor, Taser Instructor, Juvenile Officer, Evidence Officer, Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer, Internal Affairs Supervisor, Field Training Officer/Supervisor, FOIA Officer and Bike Patrol Officer.

Chief Ryan and his wife, Shannon, have been married for more than 20 years and they have four children. They are active members of St. Jude's Catholic Church, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. 

 

2nd VICE PRESIDENT 

ERIC BARDEN

Chief Eric Barden has served with the Zion Police Department since January 2002 and was appointed as Chief of Police in February 2021.

Chief Barden has served in a number of roles within the police department including, patrol, the bike unit, motorcycle unit, drug and gang detective, sergeant and lieutenant prior to his appointment to Chief of Police.
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.

 

3rd VICE PRESIDENT 

Kirk Brueggeman

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.

 

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT 

MARC MATON

Chief Marc Maton began his law enforcement career as an Illinois State Police trooper in 1986. From 1988 through 2003, his primary assignments were in drug units and multi-jurisdictional task forces. In 2003, he was given the Command of Zone 3 in Joliet. In 2009, he was appointed as the Chief of Field Operations. In 2012, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Illinois State Police, where he served until his retirement in December 2014.

In January 2015, Maton was appointed Chief of Police for the Lemont Police Department. Chief Maton is currently the Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He is Past President of the IRMA Police Chiefs Steering Committee and is an Executive Board member of the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association and the Illinois Homicide Investigators Association. Maton currently serves on the Executive Board of the Illinois Security Professionals Association and on the IACP Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Committee.

Maton was the Illinois Crime Commission Police Chief of the Year in 2017. In 2019 he received the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Presidents Award and was honored as the Illinois Association of Chiefs Police Chief of the Year in 2020.

Maton has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University. He is married with three sons and resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

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

VICE PRESIDENT AT-LARGE  (REGION 3)

PAT KREIS

Chief Patrick L. Kreis began his police career in 1991 after serving in the US Army Special Forces. He previously worked as a SWAT team leader for a large mutual aid partnership where he now serves as the organization’s president. He has been a Chief of Police for over 10 years, first with the Winnetka Police Department before joining the Vernon Hills Police Department in 2017. Chief Kreis is an experienced law enforcement trainer, state certified to teach a variety of police topics. 

Chief Kreis is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Business Administration. He and his wife of thirty years have three children.

  

VICE PRESIDENT AT-LARGE  (REGION 2)

DARREN J. GAULT

With over 23 years in law enforcement, Chief Darren Gault has had the privilege to serve both the City of East Moline and the City of Moline. He began his current position as Chief of Police for the Moline Police Department in 2019 after completing a robust career in East Moline to include patrol, investigations, FBI Gang Task Force and administration. 

Gault holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Political Science and a Master of Organizational Leadership degree. In addition, he is a 2017 graduate of the FBI National Academy and an ILACP Certified Police Chief. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Quad Cities Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Quad Cities Open Network and Quad Cities Rush soccer.

Gault recognizes the challenges of law enforcement including staffing, recruiting, image management, reform legislation and, of course, still providing public safety for our communities. He is honored to serve ILACP and to be a strong voice for the Northwest and Central Illinois membership.

 

VICE PRESIDENT AT-LARGE  (REGION 1) 

Steve Johnson

Steve has been in law enforcement for 36 years. Steve became the Chief of Police for the Fairview Heights Police Department in 2023. He previously served as Chief of Police for the Swansea Police Department for eight years and 25 years as a captain with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. He started as a Law Enforcement Explorer at the age of 14 then was hired as a civilian employee and worked his way up through Patrol Deputy, Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. Steve served on the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis for 20 years. 

Steve earned his Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice, Bachelor’s Degree in Workforce Education and Master’s Degree in Computers and Management. Steve attended the Police Executive Role in the 21st Century, a Police Training Board certified executive program, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy #224 in Quantico, Virginia.

Steve is an internationally recognized speaker in the areas of Leadership, Officer Safety, Criminal Investigations, CyberCrime, Homeland Security, Response to Active Shooter, Interview and Interrogation, and various other topics. Steve has taught in every state and several other countries to thousands of police officers and civilians.

 

PARLIAMENTARIAN

LOU JOGMEN

Lou Jogmen is the current Chief of Police for the Highland Park Police Department and has served in that role since 2018. In 1993, after completing basic recruit training at the Chicago Police Academy, he started his law enforcement career with the Prospect Heights Police Department and in 1994, he accepted a position with the Park Ridge Police Department where he served 24 years before accepting the position as Chief in Highland Park.

Jogmen graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Roosevelt University. In his work away from the department, he has conducted individual, pre-employment psychological assessments for public safety agency candidates and public safety promotional assessment center processes.  

Jogmen is a Certified Police Chief through the ILACPs credentialing program.