Peoria police officer returns to alma mater to discuss career in law enforcement
Seamus O'Sullivan - Features Editor
A Peoria Police Department officer returned to his alma mater last week to speak with students about his career path, the realities of policing, and the challenges and rewards that come with the profession.
Officer Jacob Willis, a 2013 graduate, visited Jessica Vivian’s “Politics of Criminal Justice” course to share his journey from college student to member of a SWAT team. His talk focused on the day-to-day work of police officers, the emotional impact of the job, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
After graduating from Monmouth, Willis said his path to law enforcement was not immediate. He briefly worked at Texas Roadhouse before finding a position working with juveniles, an experience that helped set the foundation for his eventual career in policing. Over time, he worked his way through the department and into his current role on the SWAT team.
Willis said that despite the dangers and hardships of the profession, moments of compassion and community support make the work meaningful. One such incident involved helping return $8,000 to a man after someone found it along the side of the road and turned it in.“It’s moments like these that remind you that there is still humanity in people.”
Jacob Willis ‘13 presenting to Politics of Criminal Justice class. Photo by Gary Bonifer.
While sharing rewarding moments, Willis described situations that can become physically and emotionally taxing and how some cases stay with officers long after they are over.
One case that continues to affect him involved Navin Jones, an 8-year-old boy who died from severe abuse, starvation, and neglect. When officers found him, he weighed only 30 pounds. Willis said the emotional toll of the case required professional counseling.
“Seeing his body was difficult and has haunted me ever since,” Willis said. “I have an almost two-year-old, and we just went to the doctor, and she weighs 28 lbs. This kid was 8 years old, and he weighed 30 lbs. So, think about that.”
Beyond individual cases, Willis said national events can such as the 2020 death of George Floyd affect public perception of local law enforcement.
“It almost made me walk away from the career just because of how poorly we were being treated for something that happened in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” Willis said. “Somebody across the entire country can change the dynamic of how people treat us in this career. So that’s always changing.”
Despite the challenges, Willis encouraged students to consider the importance of mental health and taking the “cop hat” off at the end of the day being present with family.