Stefan Bjes

About

Stefan Bjes has 23 years of law enforcement experience and is currently the Assistant Director of Campus Safety for local four-year college.

Stefan has a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a master’s degree from Lewis University. He is also a graduate from Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

During his law enforcement career, he served as a patrol sergeant and oversaw the department’s Use of Force Program, Active Shooter/ Rapid Response Program, Crisis Intervention Team, and Juvenile Officers. Stefan also spent several years as a School Resource Officer. During that time, he updated the safety plans for the entire school district and conducted security assessments on all of schools within the district. Stefan has trained hundreds of faculty, staff and students, in both K-12 and Higher Education, about Active Shooter protocols. Stefan has also trained businesses and places of worship about Active Shooter protocols.

Stefan is also a certified law enforcement instructor through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and is a police academy instructor. Stefan was recognized for his work with children with disabilities and was awarded the 2019 Juvenile Officer of the Year by the Illinois Juvenile Officers Association and the 2022 Missing Children’s Award by the United States Department of Justice.

Stefan has written several professional articles and been interview numerous times on school safety and other law enforcement topics.

Stefan spends most of his time with his wife, who is an elementary school teacher, and his three sons. He also enjoys coaching soccer for children with disabilities.