New Wis. Police Chief Gets Badge from Twin Sister, also a Chief
What to know
• Beloit’s Police and Fire Commission formally appointed Schonella Stewart as the city’s next police chief, with her swearing-in on Monday.
• Stewart, a 19-year veteran and commander with the Oak Park Police Department in Illinois, becomes Beloit’s first female chief and brings extensive patrol, investigative, tactical and community-policing experience.
• Stewart said she plans to uphold constitutional rights and advance the city’s strategic vision, drawing on her background in policing, task-force work and social services.
By Jeff Richgels
Source The Wisconsin State Journal
The Beloit Police and Fire Commission on Monday officially appointed Schonella Stewart as the southern Wisconsin city’s next police chief.
Beloit previously had announced that the PFC intended to select Stewart as the next chief, pending a standard employment drug screen, a background investigation, and formal PFC approval.
Stewart, a 19-year veteran and commander of the Oak Park (Illinois) Police Department, was sworn into office and received her badge on Monday at the Beloit Public Library, 605 Eclipse Blvd., the city said in a statement.
Stewart will be Beloit’s first female police chief.
“I am so excited and thankful to the Police and Fire Commission, the city team, the Beloit Police Department, and the community of Beloit for entrusting me with public safety,” Stewart said in a statement. “I wish that my family members who have gone on could see this. I come from a family of public servants. I plan on upholding the constitutional rights of all people. I look forward to implementing the City of Beloit’s vision and strategic plan for our future, while incorporating 21st Century policing principles.”
Stewart has worked as a patrol officer, juvenile investigator, detective, tactical officer, patrol sergeant, tactical sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol commander, community policing commander and investigations commander. She also served as a homicide task force member, Internet Crimes Against Children task force member, FBI hijacking task force member, and human trafficking task force member.
In her role as commander, she performed a variety of administrative, operation and fiscal oversight of the patrol, investigations and community policing units. She supervised the patrol, investigations and community policing personnel, with the sergeants directly reporting to her. She also has a strong background in community policing, media relations and investigation tactics.
Stewart previous to her police career worked in social work.
Stewart, a graduate of Northwestern University Staff and Command School, is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.
She holds a Master of Social Work from Chicago State University and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in criminal justice graduating with Cum Laude Honors from Barber-Scotia College.
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