Bloomington Police earn ILEAP reaccreditation as city commissions three probationary officers

The Bloomington City Council on April 2024 recognized three probationary officers and celebrated the police department’s recent reaccreditation through the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

Chief Simmington presented commissions to Kevin Steck, Corey and Robert Hillier after each completed the Illinois academy, passed state testing and finished roughly 18 weeks of in‑house and field training. "Present you with your commission," Simmington said while listing each officer’s background. Mayor Mokum Alamwe congratulated the officers and thanked their families for the commitment to public safety.

At a separate presentation, Chief Dan Ryan of the Leland Grove Police Department read the accreditation council’s findings and delivered the ILEAP plaque to the department. "Bloomington PD has achieved tier 1, which means they have met or exceeded 69 important standards," Ryan said, and he noted the department’s original accreditation in 2019 and a reaccreditation date of 01/12/2024.

Ryan emphasized the program’s rigor and the small share of Illinois agencies with ILEAP recognition: "Only 61 Illinois agencies in the state have achieved ILEAP accreditation since the program was launched," he said, underscoring that the certification covers administration, training, operations and personnel policies.

Chief Jamal Simonson and accreditation manager Lieutenant Clesson were singled out for leading the department’s recent effort to collect standards documentation and evidence. The presentation did not announce changes to department policy or new protocols beyond the accreditation recognition.

The council’s ceremony combined the commissioning of individual officers with the broader accreditation announcement; no formal council vote or ordinance was recorded in the segments covering the recognition and accreditation.