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ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ Appoints a New Police Chief

Commander Margie Lill has been named the next Chief of the ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ Police Department, effective upon Chief Mike Zegadlo's retirement on February 20. She will be the first female chief of LUPD.

“Chief Lill is a natural choice to lead LUPD given her vast professional experience and deep understanding of and dedication to LUPD’s unique approach to campus law enforcement,” Dr. Christopher Sindt, provost of ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ, commented.

Lill, who currently serves as a police commander, has previously held positions as a patrol officer, field training officer, sergeant, and lieutenant with LUPD.

In 2012, she was the first external police officer hired by the department, which had been established a year earlier. Prior law enforcement experience includes service as a community service officer with the Elmhurst Police Department and as a police officer with Oak Brook Terrace and Campton Hills.

Lill completed her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and her master’s degree in organizational leadership at ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ and is also a graduate of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute’s Police Executive Role in the 21st Century course, an intensive leadership training program for executive-level police leaders.

In addition to being a certified RAD self-defense instructor, Lill is an experienced survivor advocate, having worked for decades in both law enforcement and with community organizations supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Chief Mike Zegadlo, a founding member of the department, has served the ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ community for 15 years. After 21 years as a police officer, he will retire his badge to take on a new role as the director of the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy housed at the College of DuPage. SLEA is one of eight police academies in the state, and trains recruits for most suburban police departments in northern Illinois.

“We are deeply grateful to Chief Zegadlo from helping establish LUPD to shaping its culture of professionalism, care, and community engagement, he has been instrumental in building the department we are proud of today,” Sindt added.

“We thank him for his leadership, commitment to training, and dedication to our mission, which will continue to influence LUPD for years to come.”

ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ is a modern, enterprising, Catholic university with a growing student enrollment from GED through doctoral level programs. As part of the global Lasallian network of 65 universities, ÃÛÑ¿ÊÓƵ is known for preparing graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.