Braidwood's new police chief

Braidwood Mayor Todd Lyons announced July 2 that Eric Allen has been selected as Braidwood’s new police chief.
Allen will replace Brett Goodwin who retired in April.
“Chief Allen brings over 25 years of law enforcement experience and a distinguished record of leadership, training, and community engagement to the Braidwood Police Department,” Lyons said on the city’s Facebook Page.
Allen was selected following a hiring process that included a review of numerous applications and a comprehensive interview process.
A panel of three separate Chiefs of Police from Will County conducted the initial interviews, unanimously selecting Allen as their number one choice. The final candidates then met with the Braidwood City Council, which also ranked Allen as their top selection.
“Chief Allen is a proven leader who shares our city’s values of transparency, accountability, and service to the community,” Lyons said. “His experience and professionalism will be an asset as we continue working to build trust, improve safety, and support the men and women of our police department.”
According to Lyons, Allen began his career in law enforcement in 1999 with the Village of Shorewood Police Department, where he rose through the ranks from patrolman to Deputy Chief. During his tenure, he played a critical role in modernizing department operations, strengthening school safety initiatives, and leading regional emergency response teams.
His leadership included oversight of policy development, internal affairs investigations and high-level coordination with local, state, and national agencies.
In addition to his local service, Allen served as the Team Commander for the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Region Three Mobile Field Force Team, where he provided instruction to over 500 officers across the state on civil unrest response and First Amendment event management.
“His leadership has been instrumental during high-profile deployments including the G20 and NATO Summits, natural disaster responses, and national political conventions,” Lyons said.
A graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Chief Allen has also completed advanced leadership programs through Northwestern University and the University of Virginia.
“We are excited that Chief Allen is joining the City of Braidwood to lead our Police Department,” Lyons said. “Chief Allen officially assumes his duties in August.”