Chief Laura King makes history as first female ILACP president

May 11, 2023

ILACP President Laura King

LOMBARD, Ill. - Members of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) witnessed another milestone on April 21, 2023, as they welcomed the 75th president of the association, as well as the first female in its more than 80-year history. President Laura King was sworn in by Judge Robert Zalud during the ILACP Awards Banquet in Lombard, Illinois last month. She will serve one year as president after having served three years a vice president. 

"As I step into the role as the 75th president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the magnitude of this opportunity does not escape me," said President King during her speech at the awards banquet. "I am humbled and will be forever grateful for the privilege to lead such an amazing organization during such important times."

Looking Ahead

President King has set several goals for herself and the organization over the next year including;

  • Leading the way in creating a climate of improved officer safety and wellness
  • Trust building initiatives with communities of color
  • Recruitment and retention initiatives

"I stand before you as the first female president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police," said President King. "And it is my final goal that at the end of my term, that people will no longer be talking about the fact that I was the first girl president, and instead remember me as a good president. For I plan to be a damn good president and it is my intention for people to think back on my term and remember my competency, our accomplishments and the leadership I provide for this great organization over my gender."

ILACP President King succeeds Chief Lou Jogmen of Highland Park who moves to his new position as Immediate Past President. Several other ILACP members were sworn in to the 2023 Board of Officers on April 21:

  • 1st Vice President Chief Marc Maton
  • 2nd Vice President Chief Joe Leonas
  • 3rd Vice President Chief Dan Ryan
  • Vice President at Large, Region 1 Chief Kirk Brueggeman
  • Vice President at Large, Region 2 Chief Darren Gault
  • Vice President at Large, Region 3 Chief Pat Kreis

Steve Casstevens will remain as ILACP Parliamentarian.

About President King

Dr. Laura L. V. King currently serves as the Chief of Police for the McHenry County Conservation District. Prior to her current assignment she served as the Commander of the Support Services Division of the McHenry, Illinois, Police Department from 1996-2016.

She began with the McHenry department in 1996 as a patrol officer, developing community-oriented policing programs and being designated as a crisis intervention, field-training, and juvenile officer.  Dr. King was also an inspector with the North Central Narcotics Task Force, responsible for both overt (tactical) and covert (undercover) narcotics operations while assigned to a multiagency specialized unit.  During this time, she acquired advanced training in surveillance, interviewing, and management of narcotics investigations, as well as experience in working cooperatively with local, state, and federal agencies. 

In 2003, Dr. King became a detective, conducting general investigations with specialty areas of asset forfeiture, financial crimes, sexual assault, crimes against children, crimes against the elderly, forensic interviewing, and evidence processing and handling.  When she became a patrol/administrative sergeant, Dr. King’s responsibilities increased to include supervision of staff members, quality assurance for written reports, scheduling, productivity monitoring, and grant program management.  She continued these roles when she became commander in 2012 where she also became responsible for the administrative division operations of the police department. 

Dr. King is an adjunct instructor in the criminal justice and psychology programs at McHenry County College in Woodstock, Illinois.  She previously worked as an adjunct instructor in the criminal justice programs at both Judson University and Columbia College of Missouri. In addition, she is a state-certified instructor for a variety of criminal justice courses at Northern Illinois Multi-Regional Training, Inc.   

Dr. King has had many officer wellness related articles published in various professional journals.  She works as a subject matter expert for BJA’s VALOR for Blue program and travels the country speaking on matters of mental wellness, psychological resiliency and physical fitness. 

Dr. King received her doctorate of philosophy and her master’s degree in psychology at Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota; she received a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice management from Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. She is a graduate of both Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and of Session 265 of the FBI’s National Academy. 

Click here to read President King's prepared remarks on the day of her inauguration.