Evanston swears in Schenita Stewart, 1st woman permanent police chief

EVANSTON, Ailing. (WLS) — A standing ovation greeted Schenita Stewart as she made historical past Monday night by being sworn in because the Metropolis of Evanston’s first everlasting feminine police chief.

“She brings over 15 years of police management, she is an Evanston native, she is a graduate of ETHS and simply frankly an excellent particular person,” mentioned Evanston Metropolis Supervisor Luke Stowe.

Her mom gushed with delight

“Proper now I am over the moon. We now have come a great distance,” mentioned Marion Stewart-Moss.

Chief Stewart, who beforehand served as Deputy Chief of Police within the East Dundee, replaces Richard Eddington, who served the Evanston Police Division for 12 years. Whereas her appointment is critical, so are the challenges she faces.

Crimes in opposition to individuals, which embrace assaults and batteries, have risen 27%, and property crimes are up 25.5%. And never in contrast to police departments throughout the nation, Evanston PD is short-staffed, presently down two dozen officers.

“These have been sophisticated years, sophisticated years within the regulation enforcement career, sophisticated years within the Evanston Police Division,” mentioned Mayor Daniel Biss. “Chief Stewart is the whole package deal. We did not need to sacrifice both professionalism or ability or deep expertise or information of Evanston and deep roots right here.”

Stewart acknowledged she has her work reduce out for her.

“Coping with staffing. Coping with morale and coping with the partnership with the group is what’s most essential. Getting again to constructing that partnership and constructing that belief again with the group,” she mentioned.