“Chief Bill Simmons personifies the best in law enforcement,” said DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph E. Birkett at an ISBA Law Enforcement Award presentation on May 18.

Birkett was referring to the chief of his Investigation Division, a veteran of 37 years as a police officer whose work has included supervising the training of undercover agents for the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMEG).

ISBA President-elect Irene F. Bahr of Wheaton presented the Law Enforcement Award to Simmons during a ceremony in the 18th Circuit Judicial Center that was attended by several of his colleagues, family and friends, along with members of the bench and bar.

“Through his professional leadership and his dedication to the community, Chief Simmons enhances the image of law enforcement and promotes a better understanding of the criminal justice system,” Birkett said.

Bahr echoed the accolade with a brief explanation of the importance to the legal profession of sharing with law enforcement the ultimate goal of serving the public and ensuring justice through fair and impartial service.

Simmons began his career in 1969 with the DuPage County sheriff's department, leading the war against drugs as an undercover officer who formed a narcotics task force. He was one of the original agents in DuMEG, a countywide anti-drug initiative.

After a time as a DuMEG training su-pervisor, he returned to the sheriff's office in 1996 to head a gang suppression unit that coordinated the efforts of county, state and federal departments.

In 1998, Birkett appointed Simmons as chief of investigations. He supervises a 22-member team that handles cases involving murder, public corruption, multi-million-dollar fraud schemes and Internet predators.

Simmons also supervises a DuPage County Children's Center team that conducts sensitive and complex investigations of physical and sexual abuse of youngsters. The team notched a 97 percent conviction rate in 2004.

The vice president of the Northern Illinois chapter of the National Organiza-tion of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Simmons recently received a Community Leradership Award from the DuPage chapter of the NAACP.

“I have known Bill for more than 24 years,” Birkett said, “and in that time I have come to know him as an honest, hard-working man. He has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting the public and serving victims of crime.”