Chief Don Thomas

Don Thomas has been Chief of Police for Sycamore, Illinois since 2001. Before that he worked over 23 years with the St. Charles (IL) Police Department serving as Deputy Chief of Operations, Administrative Coordinator and accreditation manager. He also worked in Bosnia (2000-2001) as a human rights investigator with the United Nations International Police Task Force.

Chief Thomas is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (179th session) and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Aurora (IL) University.

Chief Thomas is an assessor for the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP) and has served as a CALEA Assessor since 1995.

Mission Statement

To protect those who live, work and travel in the City of Sycamore by employing quality people who work according to "best practices" in partnership with those we serve.

Vision Statement

To be recognized as a first-rate provider of police services by those seeking our help; acknowledged as a fierce adversary by those who disregard the rule of law, and respected by those who work with us in the criminal justice community. We will provide quality programs and services that:

• Maximize the public safety of each person in Sycamore
• Develop and support quality employees
• Meet the police needs of a growing community
• Effectively manage the department's financial and physical resources

Guiding Principles

• Organize the agency in the most efficient manner and employ qualified people in the correct numbers to get the job done effectively and safely.
• Provide quality training to these employees.
• Work according to the best practices of nationally accredited police departments.
• Utilize state of the art police tools, communications and technologies.
• Provide a comfortable and effective facility for our employees.
• Seek and act on information from those who live, work and visit in Sycamore.
• Continue to improve our community programs.
• Use the Strategic Plan and the Annual Citizens Survey as a basis for the command staff to develop specific annual goals and objectives for agency programs.
• Hire the right people in the correct numbers, organized effectively and expertly trained to work according to best practices, using the right tools in a comfortable and efficient facility in accordance to a carefully budgeted strategic plan.