The Prevention Leaders Podcast
You Must Be Present To Win: A Conversation w/Chief Lees [#28]
55 min
Guest: Chief Jill Lees
Listen on SpotifySummary
This episode features a conversation with Chief Jill Lees, who discusses her extensive career in law enforcement. She shares insights from her journey, which began at the Plainfield Police Department and culminated in her role as Chief of Police at the Indiana University Police Department Bloomington Division. The discussion highlights her varied experiences and achievements throughout her distinguished career.
Key takeaways
- Chief Jill Lees graduated from Indiana University in 1995 with a degree in Criminal Justice.
- She served 23 years at the Plainfield Police Department, holding roles such as DARE Officer, School Resource Officer, and Hostage Negotiator.
- Chief Lees was appointed Chief of Police of the Indiana University Police Department Bloomington Division on March 4, 2019.
- She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session #279 and FBI LEEDS Session #80.
- Chief Lees received numerous awards, including the Van Buren Elm, the Town of Plainfield’s highest honor, in 2019.
Show notes
Let me tell you a little bit about my extraordinary guest, Chief Jill Lees.
Chief Lees graduated from Indiana University in 1995 with a degree in Criminal Justice. She attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Bloomington during the summer of 1994 as an IU Police Part-time Police Officer. She was sworn in at the Plainfield Police Department (IN) on May 15, 1995, National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
During her 23-year career at the Plainfield Police Department Lees has served as a DARE Officer, Department Instructor/Field Training Officer, Bicycle Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Explorer Post Leader, Hostage Negotiator, Chaplain, Public Information Officer, Child Safety Seat Technician, CALEA Accreditation Manager, R.A.D. Instructor, and Crime Watch Coordinator.
While serving the Plainfield Police Department, she received numerous awards from within the Department and from the Plainfield Community including the Van Buren Elm awarded in 2019 which is the Town of Plainfield’s highest honor.
Chief Lees retired from the Plainfield Police Department in March 2019 and was appointed as the Chief of Police of the Indiana University Police Department
Bloomington Division on March 4th, 2019. While serving as Chief of IUPD Bloomington, Chief Lees graduated from the FBI National Academy Session #279 on March 13, 2020 and recently graduated from the FBI LEEDS Session #80.
Lees was selected in June 2020 to serve as a member of the Distinguished Alumni Council for the Indiana University Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is an O’Neill Graduate student at IUPUI finishing the MPA program in May 2022 and was selected at the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis as an Elite 50 award recipient in April 2021.
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