EAST PEORIA – In a municipality that puts a premium on public safety, the city’s highest salaries go to the police chief, two deputy police chiefs and fire chief.
The 20 highest-paid city employees also include three assistant fire chiefs, seven police sergeants and a detective.
Illinois statute requires municipalities that participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to publicly post a list of all employees making more than $75,000 in total compensation.
The Journal Star is reviewing those public documents and sharing contents of the reports with readers for transparency. East Peoria’s compensation report includes annual salary, health and life insurance, allowances for equipment and uniforms, holiday pay and on-call hours.
East Peoria has more than 60 employees earning at least $100,000 in salary, according to the city’s most recent compensation report.
Here are the 20 highest-paid East Peoria city employees for 2025-26 based on their total compensation.
The information below is based strictly on East Peoria’s 2025-26 compensation report and may not reflect any changes in employment, titles and compensation since it was originally set.
1. David Catton
Catton earns an annual salary of $140,647 as East Peoria’s police chief. He also has an annual insurance allowance of $21,663 and a $1,600 uniform allowance for an annual total compensation package of $163,910.
2. Jason Ernst
Ernst collects an annual salary of $128,625 in his role as the city’s deputy police chief. His $156,691 total compensation also includes $21,663 for insurance, $1,600 uniform allowance and $4,803 in holiday pay.
3. Ryan Billingsley
Billingsley serves as East Peoria’s deputy police chief and collects an annual salary of $128,625, a $21,663 insurance allowance, a $1,600 uniform allowance and $4,803 in holiday pay for a total compensation package of $156,691.
4. Bobby Zimmerman
As East Peoria’s fire chief, Zimmerman collects an annual total compensation package of $154,792. That package includes a $140,963 base salary, $13,004 for insurance and an $825 uniform allowance.
5. Ryan Crawford
Crawford’s annual salary as a police sergeant is $126,955. He collected a $21,663 insurance allotment, a $1,600 uniform allowance and $4,471 in holiday pay for a total compensation figure of $154,689.
6. Andy Ogburn
Ogburn serves as an assistant fire chief and collects an annual salary of $123,652. His $151,074 total compensation also includes $21,663 for insurance, an $825 uniform allotment and $4,934 in holiday pay.
7. Anthony LaHood
LaHood is a sergeant with the East Peoria Police Department. His $150,903 total compensation consisted of a $123,257 base salary, $21,663 for insurance, an $1,600 uniform allowance and $4,383 in holiday pay.
8. Grant Hangartner
An assistant fire chief, Hangartner garners an annual salary of $123,652. His $150,666 total compensation also includes $21,663 for insurance, an $825 uniform allowance and $4,526 in holiday pay.
9. Jeffery Becker
The city finance director’s base annual salary is $130,690. Becker’s compensation package also includes a $13,004 insurance stipend and a $5,400 vehicle allowance for a total of $149,094.
10. David Horn
A sergeant with the East Peoria Police Department, Horn garnered an annual salary of $126,955. His $147,663 total compensation also included a $14,637 insurance allotment, a $1,600 uniform allowance and $4,471 in holiday pay.
11. Matt Bolton
East Peoria police sergeant Bolton’s total compensation package is $147,391 and includes a $128,188 base salary, $13,044 for insurance, $1,600 for uniforms and $4,559 in holiday pay.
12. Veronica Marmitt
Marmitt’s annual salary as an assistant fire chief is $123,652. Her $144,048 total compensation also includes $14,637 for insurance, an $825 uniform allowance and $4,934 in holiday pay.
13. Benjamin Middleton
Middleton collected $141,701 in total compensation as a sergeant with the East Peoria Police Department. That included a $123,257 annual salary, $13,004 for insurance, a $1,600 uniform allowance and $3,840 in holiday pay.
14. Anthony Fisher
Police detective sergeant Fisher collected a $123,257 annual salary along with $8,055 for insurance, a $1,600 uniform allowance, $4,383 in holiday pay and $1,800 in on-call pay for a total compensation package of $139,095.
15. Tyler Swearingen
Police detective Swearingen collected a $110,027 annual salary along with $21,663 for insurance, a $1,600 uniform allowance, $3,840 in holiday pay and $1,800 in on-call pay for a total compensation package of $138,930.
16. Philip Brown
An East Peoria fire lieutenant, Brown garnered a $109,388 base salary. His $137,919 total compensation package also included $21,663 for insurance, $450 for uniforms and $6,418 in holiday pay.
17. Patrick Patterson
A sergeant in the East Peoria Police Department, Patterson collected a base salary of $123,257. His $137,901 total compensation package also included a $13,044 insurance allotment and a $1,600 uniform allowance.
18. Joshua Hutton
An East Peoria police officer, Hutton collected a $110,027 annual salary, $21,663 for insurance, a $1,600 uniform allowance and $3,913 in holiday pay, making his total compensation $137,203.
19. Sam Sauder
Sauder garnered a $136,132 total compensation package as an East Peoria fire lieutenant. In addition to his $109,401 annual salary, he collected $21,663 for insurance, $450 for uniforms and $4,618 in holiday pay.
20. Michael Kruse
Kruse has an annual salary of $109,401 as a fire lieutenant. His $136,132 in total compensation included an additional $21,663 for insurance, a $450 uniform allowance and $4,618 in holiday pay.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Police, fire chiefs among East Peoria’s highest-paid city employees
Reporting by Mike Kramer, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
