Information Center
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, Grand Lodge
"We, the law enforcement officers of the State of Illinois and the several political subdivisions thereof, as representatives and delegates of the subordinate Lodges, do hereby associate the several Lodges we represent and the members thereof for the following purposes...
ILFOP Executive Board
| President Ted Street |
First Vice President Pat Duckhorn |
Second Vice President Jim Simmons |
Third Vice President Dave Nixon |
| Secretary Chris Southwood |
Treasurer Mike Vitale |
Sergeant-At-Arms Bill Mehrtens |
Chairman of Trustees Kevin Ferrell |
| Immediate Past President Mark Donahue |
National Trustee Robert "Rocky" Nowaczyk |
Executive Board Chairman F.O.P. Labor Council Shawn Roselieb |
Board of Trustees |
President Ted Street
tstreet@ilfop.org
Ted served in full-time sworn law enforcement from 1977 until 1989
when he came to work full-time for the FOP. During his law enforcement career he held the positions of Field Training
Officer, Traffic Safety Coordinator, Traffic Accident Re-constructionist, Evidence Room Technician, Fleet Manager and
State Certified HGN & Field Sobriety Instructor for In-Service Training. Ted was a Charter member of the Illinois
Association of Technical Accident Investigators. He was the first member of his Police Department to attend the
Illinois State Police Academy where he graduated with the Advisor’s Award. During his law enforcement career he
maintained high activity ratings within the Police Department. He believed in positive community relations and
was active in promoting public relations on behalf of the Police Department and the FOP membership. Ted was also
elected and served as a member of the local police pension board for a number of years.
Ted was active in the FOP labor movement from the inception of the FOP Labor Council. Ted is proud of the fact he and only two other individuals can say they have attended every annual meeting of the FOP Labor Council. Ted began as a part-time Field Service Representative with the IL FOP Labor Council some two years prior to leaving full-time law enforcement. He worked evenings and his days off in organizing, negotiating labor agreements, representing membership in labor-management meetings and processing grievances. In June of 1988 at the State Lodge Biennial Conference and 25th Anniversary of the IL FOP State Lodge, Ted was elected as District 13 Trustee. At the time Ted was a Trustee for Tazewell County Lodge 98 where he later became Vice-President. In May of 1989 Ted began his full-time career with the FOP being hired as the second full-time Field Representative with the Labor Council, which required him and his family to move to Springfield. Ted transferred his local lodge membership from Tazewell County Lodge 98 to Sangamon County Lodge 55. By December 1989, Ted was asked to serve as Assistant Director of the IL FOP Labor Council where he oversaw Field Operations and the Legal Defense Program. The move to Springfield placed Ted in District 16 of the State Lodge where Ted ran for District 16 Trustee in 1990 and was re-elected to three subsequent two-year terms. At the IL FOP State Lodge 1996 Biennial Conference, Ted ran for the office of Second Vice-President and was elected to serve two subsequent two-year terms. At the IL FOP State Lodge 2000 Biennial Conference, Ted ran for First Vice-President and was elected where he served until being elected State President at the IL FOP State Lodge 2002 Biennial Conference. During Ted’s FOP career he has served on a number of local lodge and state lodge committees, as local and state lodge trustee, local lodge and state lodge vice-president.
Effective June 15, 2006, upon completing 20 years with the Illinois FOP Labor Council, Street was offered full-time employment with the State Lodge and subsequently was elected to his third term as State President on July 8, 2006, to a four year term of office. In addition, he has served since March 2006 as Chariman of the Illinois Law Enforcment Training and Standards Board and will serve in the at capacity until March 2008.
First Vice President Pat Duckhorn
chiduck37@hotmail.com
Pat "Duck" Duckhorn joined the Chicago Police Department in June 1973. Pat has served in the 18th District,
SOG-North/Task Force, and the 19th District where he ended up on the wagon prior to retiring after completing 32 years.
Pat grew up on the northside of Chicago. He attended St. Ignatius High School. Pat received his BA. from Loyola University in 1973. Pat is arried to Charlotte and has three children: Jennifer, Patrick and Nicholas (who became the fourth generation to proudly join the Chicago Police Department in 2006.)
Since Lodge 7 became Chicago's bargaining unit, Pat has served continuously as the elected unit rep in SOG-North and the 19th District. Past served on the Lodge 7 Board for 4 terms as Trustee. Pat served on the Safety/Uniform, Retirement, and Grievance Committees. Pat has served for the previous six years as District #1 Trusteee on FOP, Illinois State Lodge Board of Trustees. Pat has served on the Site Committee as well as the Constitution and By-Law Committees on the state level.
Second Vice President Jim Simmons
jsimmons@fopidoc.com
James joined the F.O.P in 1994 at Stateville Correctional Facility and has remained active in the organization throughout his Corrections career. Simmons recently was elected as the ILFOP State Lodge 2nd Vice President. He has been an institutional trustee, chief trustee and currently is in his second term as local lodge president. He also sits on the State F.O.P. Legislative Committee along with the Lodge presidents of Chicago Police, Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff and F.O.P. Labor Council and both the State Lodge President and 1st Vice President. He is very active in lobbying for law enforcement issues that have direct influence on all law enforcement in the State of Illinois. James resides in Oswego with his wife Melissa and his two beautiful children.
Third Vice President Dave Nixon
dnixon@fop.org
Dave Nixon currently serves as the Third Vice President of the Illinois State Lodge Board of Trustees/Executive Board, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee and Executive Board Chairman of the Illinois Law Enforcement Education Foundation (ILEEF). Nixon has a long history of active involvement in the F.O.P.; his 2008 re-election to the board marks 20 years of service as an officer on the Illinois FOP State Lodge Board of Trustees/Executive Board. Nationally, he is the Past-Chairman of the National Presidential Screening Committee (2004) and the Past Chairman of the National Conference Resolutions Committee (2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007). On the local level, Nixon is the Charter Lodge President, Past President and Past Vice President of his home lodge, Rock Island City F.O.P. #57.
Professionally, Nixon is an Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council Field Representative, a position he has held since 1991, negotiating and administrating contracts, and representing members in grievance and discipline disputes. Nixon spent his active duty law enforcement career at the Rock Island City Police Department as an Investigator from 1988-1991, a Patrolman from 1979-1988, and an Evidence Technician from 1977-1979. Nixon served in the U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy Reserve from 1973-1980, where he achieved the rank of Petty Officer 2 (Photographer's Mate).
Nixon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College and an Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement from Blackhawk College. His outside interests include: political science, leadership development, golf, and other outdoor activities and family.
Secretary Chris Southwood
chris@iltroopers41.org
I started my career with the Illinois State Police in 1988 and I’ve been a strong supporter and active member of the F.O.P. for over 20 years. I’ve had variety of assignments including K-9 Handler, Accident Reconstruction Officer, Vehicle Investigations Officer, Field Training Officer and Range Officer. In 2005 I completed a Temporary Duty Assignment to Zone 4 Investigations then returned home to patrol in District 14. I’m currently assigned to the Director’s Office and serve full time at Troopers Lodge # 41 in Springfield, as 1st Vice President. Throughout my career, no matter the assignment, I’ve always believed in the idea of Law Enforcement being a Family. I’ve relied on troopers as well as officers from other agencies for everything, including my very safety. You’ve always been there for me and I give you my word I will always be here for you. I believe in our rights as members of this great Organization and I will do whatever I can to protect and enhance those rights. Communication and working together are the keys to the continued success of our State Lodge. It’s an honor and privilege to serve YOU... the membership, as State Lodge Secretary and I thank you for your continued support and trust. Please feel free to contact me at anytime with your questions or concerns.
Treasurer Mike Vitale
mvitale@ilfop.org
Mike is a recently retired sergeant from the Oak Park Police Department where he served for 27 years. He was very active from the beginning of his career with Oak Park Lodge #8, serving as president, vice president and treasurer. At the time of his retirement, he was also president of the Oak Park Lieutenants and Sergeants Association, the collective bargaining representative for Oak Park Police command staff.
Mike began serving on the State Lodge Executive Committee Board in 1994. He has been elected to the positions of Financial Secretary for eight years and Recording Secretary for four years. He has been assigned to multiple committees over the past 12 years including: Finance, Conference, By-Laws, Strategic Planning and Fundraising. He has also attended a number of leadership seminars on behalf of the Illinois F.O.P. and represents the State Lodge at National F.O.P. functions.
Mike holds a degree in Police Science from Triton College and has earned coursework from Northwestern University Traffic Institute. He lives in Indian Head Park with his wife, Debbie, and children.
Sergeant-At-Arms Bill Mehrtens
bogomil@mchsi.com
Bill Mehrtens is a retired deputy sheriff from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. He served as a deputy from 1975 to 1988, working in patrol with the exception of two years service with the Carbondale-based Metropolitan Enforcement Group drug enforcement unit. In 1988, he retired to accept a full-time position with the Illinois F.O.P. Labor Council, where he continues to work as a Field Representative, working primarily in Southern Illinois. During his years at the Sheriff's Department, he served as the range officer, training officer, and assisted in computerizing traffic and accident analysis for the department. Bill helped found the Jackson County Deputy Sheriff's Association in 1976, and served as the charter president. In 1983, he helped establish the Jackson County F.O.P. Lodge #117, and served as its' charter president. Soon after getting involved with the F.O.P., he served as an associate trustee for District 12, and helped organize lodges throughout Southern Illinois. In 1986, Bill was elected to the State Lodge Executive Board as Chaplain, and has been reelected to the Board at each biennial State Lodge Conference since, and has served as Chaplain, Sergeant-at-Arms, and 3rd Vice-President. Mehrtens is currently Sgt. At Arms. He has led the Illinois delegation each year to the annual Day on the Hill lobbying effort sponsored by the Grand Lodge. Bill has served on the Grand Lodge Legislative Committee and served as Committee from 2008 to 2011. His prior Grand Lodge service includes appointments to the Elections and Labor Service Committees. He also serves as the Chairman of the State Lodge’s Memorial Committee, with his major interest in historic research, tracking officers killed in the line of duty who have not yet been honored on the State and National Police Memorials.
Bill also serves on the Executive Board of the St. Louis Gateway Chapter of the Labor & Employment Relations Association, the nation’s largest chapter in this labor-management association, and is a member of the Chicago-based German-American Police Association. Bill is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, receiving a B.S. degree in Zoology in 1972, and then attending graduate school for two years, specializing in Entomology and Organic Chemistry. He lives in Carbondale with his wife, Angela, and they have two children- Annika, a graduate of the University of Alabama-Huntsville and Alex, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota. Bill helps organize the Southern Illinois Irish Festival, and continues his passion for soccer, working as a referee for more than 32 years and helping to train and mentor young officials.
Chairman of Trustees and District # 4 Kevin Farrell
kjf3334@sbcglobal.net
Farrell is serving his second term as the District #4 Trustee and his first term as Chairman of Trustees. He is a sergeant with the Cook County Sheriff's Department where he has served for 15 years. He resides in Oak Lawn with his wife, Rhonda, and their three children.
State Lodge Immediate Past President Mark Donahue
mdonahue@chicagofop.org
President, Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Mark Donahue has been a Chicago Police Officer since 1977. For twenty years, he served as a patrolman and a Field Training Officer on the City's south side In 1996, he was promoted to Youth Officer and subsequently became a Detective in 1998.
Mark is a graduate of St. Laurence High School, Moraine Valley Community College and St. Xavier University.
For many years Mark has served in a host of capacities with the Fraternal Order of Police, he has represented his colleagues on the City, State and National levels. In 1996, Donahue began his full-time work for the organization when he was elected Financial Secretary of Chicago, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, and has served on the Board of Trustees of both the Chicago Lodge and the Illinois State Fraternal Order of Police. Mark was recruited to serve the National Board of Trustee's as Grievance Chairman and continues to share his leadership skills on the national level. Mark served as president of the Illinois State Lodge from 1998 until July of 2002. In April of 2002, Donahue was elected President of Chicago Lodge #7.
Mark Donahue is an active participant in many organizations related to quality-of-life issues for all the citizens of Illinois. Mark serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Crime Commission and also as a Board Member of FIGHT CRIME: Invest in Kids, Illinois, an organization which reaches out to at-risk children in the City of Chicago and across the state and country.
Mark resides on Chicago's southwest side with his wife, Sharon and their three children.
National Trustee Robert "Rocky" Nowaczyk
nowaczk@isp.state.il.us
Robert Nowaczyk is currently serving as the F.O.P. Illinois State Lodge's National Trustee, a position he was originally elected to at the National Conference in Louisville, KY in 1993. Nowaczyk is also the National F.O.P. Easter Seals Committee Chairman, a position he has held since 1993, and a Troopers Lodge 41 District Trustee, a position he has held since 1998. Previously, he served as a Illinois State Lodge Trustee from 1988-1993, representing District 2, Troopers Lodge 41. He has also served on numerous local, state and national committees such as: legislative, insurance, legal, accreditation, grievance and ad hoc and special inquiry.
Nowaczyk became an Illinois State Trooper in June, 1977 at the same time he joined Troopers Lodge #41.
Executive Board Chairman F.O.P. Labor Council Shawn Roselieb
sroselieb@fop.org
Shawn Roselieb joined the Fraternal Order of Police in 1992 when he joined the East Moline Police Department. Heis the current Sec/Treas of East Moline Lodge #96.
Shawn is a graduate of Erie High School and Augustana College, where he received a B.A. degree majoring in Education.
Since joining East Moline PD, Shawn has served as Patrolman- including 7 years as K-9 Officer and 4 years as Detective. He was promoted to Sergeant and is currently assigned to dayshift.
Shawn serves on the Executive Board of the Illinois FOP Labor Council as Chairman. He is the past Dist 12 Trustee, and currentlyserves on the Executive Board of the Illinois FOP State Lodge.