Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria has been honored by the Illinois Comptroller’s Office as one of three state and civic leaders spotlighted during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Echevarria was honored Monday during a ceremony at the office of Comptroller Susana Mendoza in Springfield, with her office citing his “leadership and real-world experience” as one of the reasons why he deserved the honor.
“With Puerto Rican and African American roots, Chief Echevarria is passionate about fairness and equality,” the comptroller’s office said. “He says his background helps him understand the challenges some communities face—and it drives him to lead with empathy and build programs that make a real difference.”
Echevarria has served as Peoria’s police chief since 2021, taking the reins after 20 years spent in the Elgin Police Department. A Marine Corps veteran, the comptroller’s office noted his work with the Illinois and International Associations of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum and the Illinois Juvenile Justice Leadership Council.
He was also appointed to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority by Gov. JB Pritzker, serving alongside the state Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly.
Echevarria was honored alongside Isaac Zuniga, vice president of academic and student success at Richland Community College in Decatur, and Stephanie Pacheco, an employee for Fairmont City in the Metro East suburbs of St. Louis.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria police Chief Echevarria honored during Hispanic Heritage Month
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
