Politics & Government

Chief of Ranger Police Gets Professional Recognition

Lake County Forest Preserves Chief of Ranger Police John Tannahill is now a Certified Police Chief.

Lake County Forest Preserves Chief of Ranger Police John Tannahill has been designated a Certified Police Chief by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP). The ILACP’s distinguished certification program is designed to recognize those law enforcement professionals who excel in all facets of the police chief function.

Tannahill is among only a select few police chiefs who have been able to meet the stringent requirements of the program since its inception in 1998. The designation signifies that Tannahill has met the highest standards of competency and conduct for his profession. To maintain certification status, police chiefs must meet ongoing requirements and apply for re-certification every five years.

To be eligible for consideration, those interested in pursuing certification must first meet the ILACP’s criteria for experience, education, professional membership, and community involvement. Candidates must demonstrate extensive law enforcement experience, including command and executive posts, a solid educational background that encompasses continuing education and training, and an active participation in relevant professional and community organizations. After meeting these requirements, they proceed with the certification examination, which tests their knowledge of managerial concepts, modern policing concepts, law and leading cases, and budgeting principles.

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Candidates who demonstrate their mastery in these areas must then face a panel of their peers, consisting of two active Illinois police chiefs and a professor in a university law enforcement program. During the structured interview, the panel questions and evaluates the candidate in the areas of leadership, management, public relations, verbal communication and ethics. Only those who have successfully completed all phases of the assessment process are granted the distinction of a Certified Police Chief in Illinois.

Illinois is the only state that currently offers a police chief certification program based on an extensive, legally validated examination process. The ILACP, in conjunction with Stanard & Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based public safety consulting firm, oversaw a rigorous development and review process that involved police chiefs from across the state.

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