Tonya Tilson
Carmel
Summary
I am an experienced police officer with a strong focus on conflict de-escalation, community engagement, and relationship building. I have a proven ability to conduct thorough investigations and mentor junior officers, enhancing team effectiveness and public safety.
Throughout my career I was a supervisor for 20 years. I spent time as a patrol supervisor, working alongside of the patrol officers responding to dispatched runs, accidents and attending community events. I worked as a member of the police departments administration working side by side with the Police Chief and Deputy Chief. I spent several years as a supervisor in the Investigation Division working cases and over seeing day to day responsibilities along with taking charge at a crime scene. I also spent time as the supervisor over the property room and the records division. I took care of logging property into and out of the property room. I made sure there were no issues in the records division where all of our case reports were released to the public. I would help answer questions when the general public would come to pick up a case report, getting a vehicle released from impound or getting fingerprinted for a handgun permit.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Police Officer
City of Lawrence Lawrence Police Department
Lawrence, IN
06.1996 - 06.2018
- Enforced laws and regulations to maintain public safety and order.
- Conducted thorough investigations into criminal activities and incidents.
- Collaborated with community organizations to enhance crime prevention efforts.
- Provided first aid and emergency response during critical situations.
- Mentored junior officers in operational procedures and best practices.
- Developed training programs to improve team effectiveness and preparedness.
- Led community outreach initiatives to foster relationships between police and residents.
- Participated in ongoing training opportunities to stay current on best practices, maintaining a high level of expertise within the field of law enforcement.
- Displayed sound judgment under pressure when making critical decisions that impact public safety during emergency situations.
- Utilized excellent communication skills when interacting with diverse populations, fostering trust between law enforcement and the community members they serve.
- Enhanced public safety by conducting routine patrols and responding to emergency calls promptly.
- Patrolled assigned areas to check homes, businesses, and public roads for signs of disturbance.
- Secured crime scenes, gathered evidence, and questioned witnesses.
- Handled domestic disputes tactfully, de-escalating tensions while providing appropriate support to affected individuals.
- Effectively diffused potentially dangerous situations through verbal negotiation techniques before escalating force was necessary.
- Reduced criminal activity in assigned areas through proactive policing and community engagement.
- Investigated and reported crimes, accidents, offenses, and damage to property.
- Trained new officers on department policies and procedures, fostering a professional work environment focused on public service.
- Testified effectively in court, contributing to successful prosecutions of offenders.
- Conducted thorough investigations for various cases, leading to timely resolutions and justice served.
- Conducted witness interviews and gathered details regarding incidents to determine best course of action.
- Enforced traffic laws diligently, promoting road safety and reducing accident rates.
- Responded immediately to reports of automobile accidents and criminal activity, calling for additional support as necessary.
- Maintained accurate case records and documentation, ensuring proper evidence handling and information sharing among relevant parties.
- Conducted preliminary investigations at scenes of major crimes.
- Managed crowd control during events, ensuring public safety while minimizing disruptions to attendees or surrounding communities.
- Patrolled assigned areas to prevent and detect roadway crimes.
- Apprehended offenders and conducted interviews and interrogations.
- Apprehended suspects, read Miranda Rights, and transported offenders to jail.
- Enforced traffic laws and ordinances through visual observation and radar speed detection.
- Mentored junior officers on the importance of ethical behavior, accountability, and professionalism in their role as public servants.
- Collaborated with other law enforcement agencies to solve complex cases and apprehend dangerous criminals.
- Supported supervisors with administrative tasks such as scheduling shifts and managing equipment inventory, increasing department efficiency and organization.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY05-1996
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN05-1994
Skills
- Report writing
- Integrity and honesty
- Conflict de-escalation
- Relationship building and management
- Patience and empathy
- Community engagement
- Planning and coordination
- Police reports
- Law enforcement
- Background investigations
- Undercover operations
- Crime scene preservation
- Search and seizure laws
- Staff management
- Schedule setting
Timeline
Police Officer
City of Lawrence Lawrence Police Department
06.1996 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Vincennes University