Illinois Chiefs honor three
as Rising Shields of Law Enforcement

List of all winners, 2012-2019 

April 24, 2019

Contact Ed Wojcicki, 217.414.7790
[email protected]

SPRINGFIELD – Two sergeants and an officer will be honored this week as Rising Shields in Law Enforcement by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. The honor goes to sworn officers under the age of 45 who are considered strong leaders and “who have strong personal beliefs about the value of law enforcement.”

           The winners this year are:

  • Sgt. Robert Broussard, Buffalo Grove Police Department
  • Officer Nicholas Haff, Winnebago Police Department
  • Sgt. Ryan Stewart, McHenry County Conservation District Police Department

They will receive their awards Friday, April 26, during the association’s Annual Awards banquet in Oak Brook. People are nominated for this award by their departments, and then are considered by the association’s Awards Committee and Board of Officers. 

Broussard joined the Buffalo Grove department in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in 2015. He has been an active investigator protecting youth from sexual predators, and he understands social media very well. “Broussard believes being active on social media and showcasing the outstanding work the men and women of the police department do will provide for better community understanding, as well as help to bridge the relationship gap,” his nomination said.

Haff is a “a community policing trailblazer,” according to his nomination. He organized the department’s entry into the National Night Out community event, and he launched the department’s Facebook page. His original goal was to get 3,200 “likes” to match the town’s population, but that’s been exceeded and the number is up to 4,400.

Stewart started as an assistant ranger, became a police officer, and was promoted to sergeant in 2013. He has created a mentoring program and strives to engage with others and be creative in boosting morale. He also helped implement a safety initiative after the district offered public hunting. He is honored for his leadership roles both inside the department and working with the community.

- 30 -