Tom Yehl, Chief of Police
Our Chief of Police, Tom Yehl, has served with the Rock Valley College Police Department since April of 2020. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Criminal and Social Justice Administration from Lewis University. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Chief Yehl worked for a municipal department in DuPage County for 27 years and held several positions. He was also a member of Felony Investigation Action Team as an investigator as well as investigator with the DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force. He began his policing career in higher education at a community college in Cook County as an Administrative Sergeant. His certifications include; certified field training officer, certified firearms instructor, certified use of force options instructor, certificate in managing an investigative unit, and certificate in property and evidence unit manager. Chief Yehl is the State of Illinois Chapter President for the National Association of Safety and Campus Administrators (NASCA).
Chief Yehl assumed his new role on October 1, 2021 while continuing his Deputy Chief responsibilities including policy and procedure development and accreditation, emergency preparedness, and community policing.
Deputy Chief Michael Schoening
Deputy Chief Schoening graduated from Loras College in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Sergeant Schoening began his career in Law Enforcement as a police officer for the Rock Valley College Police Department in 2009. He was promoted to sergeant on June 1, 2020. Sergeant Schoening is a Firearms Instructor, Bike Officer, Certified Glock Armorer, and a member of the ILEAS Mobile Field Force.
Sergeant John Hoshaw
Sergeant Hoshaw's family moved to the Rockford area in 1965 when his father, Lloyd Hoshaw, took a teaching position with Rock Valley College. He is an RVC alumnus with an AAS Degree In Police Science, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University.
He was hired by the Rockford Police Department in 1981 where he worked in many different areas over the next 32 years. He has been a firearms instructor and armorer, a member of the SWAT team, an accident investigator, a member of the PBPA union board, Patrol Sergeant and Field Force supervisor. Sergeant Hoshaw retired from the Rockford Police Department as a Sergeant in 2012 and took a position as a Patrol Officer with the Rock Valley College Police Department. He was promoted to RVC PD Sergeant in 2014.
His hobbies include outdoor sports, hunting, fishing, and target shooting. As a police Master Firearms Instructor, he has had opportunities, to study at a number of marksmanship academies including The University of Illinois PTI, Gunsite academy, Smith and Wesson Academy, and Sigarms Academy. He is an avid competition shooter, and has shot in a number of rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines at the local, state, and national level.
Officer Marc Rubert
Officer Rubert has worked at Rock Valley College since 2008 and has worked in law enforcement since 1998. Officer Rubert is a Field Training Officer (FTO), Fraternal Order Police (FOP) Labor Council Negotiations Team member (2012-2016) CBA, C-Cert instructor, and a First Responder D.
Officer Rubert grew up in Rockford and attended Rock Valley College (1989-1991) and graduated in 1991.
Officer Sarah Smith
Officer Smith graduated from Rock Valley College with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science in Criminal Justice. She started her career in law enforcement in 2003, and has been with the Rock Valley College Police Department since 2005. Officer Smith is a Certified Juvenile Officer and a R.A.D. Instructor. She has additional training in Practical Lie Detection & Field Interviewing, Critical Incident Management and Serving & Protecting a Multi-Cultural Community. Officer Smith is also a Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Union Steward.
Officer John Hoeksema
Officer Hoeksema joined the Rock Valley College Police Department in May of 2021. He began his law enforcement career in January of 1993 with the Rockford Police Department. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Theresa James, Emergency & Risk Management Coordinator
Julie Boggie, Administrative Assistant III