PFC Appoints Next Beloit Police Chief

The Beloit Police and Fire Commission appointed Schonella Stewart as the next City of Beloit Police Chief Monday evening during a special meeting. The PFC previously announced its intention to select the 19-year law enforcement veteran as chief following interviews, assessment center and community forum held last month.

Stewart will be sworn into office and receive her badge at 6pm Monday, Dec. 1, at Beloit Public Library, 605 Eclipse Blvd.
Stewart is looking forward to being involved in the community and joining the men and women of the City of Beloit Police Department. She will be the first female to hold the chief of police role at the department.

“I am so excited and thankful to the Police and Fire Commission, the city team, the Beloit Police Department, and the community of Beloit for entrusting me with public safety,” Stewart said. “I wish that my family members who have gone on could see this. I come from a family of public servants. I plan on upholding the constitutional rights of all people. I look forward to implementing the City of Beloit’s vision and strategic plan for our future, while incorporating 21^st Century policing principles.”

Stewart has served in law enforcement for 19 years in Oak Park, Illinois. She started her career as a police officer and has risen through the ranks at the department. Stewart worked as a patrol officer, juvenile investigator, detective, tactical officer, patrol sergeant, tactical sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol commander, community policing commander and investigations commander. She also served as a homicide task force member, Internet Crimes Against Children task force member, FBI hijacking task force member, and human trafficking task force member.

In her role as commander, she performed a variety of administrative, operation and fiscal oversight of the patrol, investigations and community policing units. She supervised the patrol, investigations and community policing personnel, with the sergeants directly reporting to her. She also has a strong background in community policing, media relations and investigation tactics.

Stewart attended Northwestern University Staff and Command School and graduated December 2023 as the prestigious Franklin M. Kreml Leadership Award Recipient for SPSC 561. Stewart is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), and National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).
Stewart holds a Master of Social Work from Chicago State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice graduating with Cum Laude Honors from Barber-Scotia College.

Before starting her career as a police officer in 2006, Stewart previously worked in social work, providing an additional perspective on community policing.