37-Year Career Began in DuPage County Sheriff’s Office

WHEATON – The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) today honored Bill Simmons, Chief of Investigations of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, with the 2006 Illinois State Bar Association Law Enforcement Award.  The award was presented to Chief Simmons this afternoon by incoming ISBA President Irene Bahr at a ceremony in the DuPage County Courthouse.

In 1969 Simmons began his law enforcement career with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office as DuPage County’s first African American police officer.  While at the Sheriff’s Office, Simmons led the war against drugs by working undercover and forming a narcotics task force.  Simmons also served as one of the original agents in the newly formed DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMEG), a county-wide anti-drug group.  Simmons left the Sheriff’s Office to work solely in DuMEG as a supervisor training undercover agents.  In 1996, Simmons returned to the Sheriff’s Office to supervise the gang suppression unit that coordinated efforts between local, county, state and federal agencies in the fight against gangs.  Two years later, State’s Attorney Joe Birkett appointed Simmons to serve as his Chief of Investigations.  In his current position Simmons supervises a team of 22 men and women investigating cases ranging from murder to public corruption to Internet predators to multi-million dollar fraud schemes.  Simmons also supervises the investigation team of the DuPage County Children’s Center who are responsible for conducting  sensitive and complex investigations of cases involving the physical and sexual abuse of children. Under the leadership of Simmons, the Children’s Center boasted a 97% conviction rate in cases disposed of in 2004.

In addition to his exemplary and extensive law enforcement career, Simmons takes a leadership role in a number of local community organizations.  He is active in the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church and also serves as Vice President for the Northern Illinois Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.  Recently, Simmons was also presented with the NAACP DuPage Chapter Community Leadership Award recognizing Simmons’ commitment to his community and his dedication to helping others.

At the award ceremony DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett commented “I have known Bill for more than 24 years and in that time I have come to know Bill as an honest, dedicated, hard-working man who personifies the very best in law enforcement.  He has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting the public and serving victims of crime.  Through his professional leadership and his dedication to the community Bill enhances the image of law enforcement and promotes a better understanding of the criminal justice system.  I am proud to have him on my team and I am proud to call him my friend.”

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