Collinsville has looked outside the department for the second time in just over two years for a new chief of police.
The city announced Friday that Lt. Stephen Evens, of the Fairview Heights Police Department, will be its new police chief, replacing Eric Van Hook, who was named O’Fallon’s Director of Public Safety on Oct. 31. Van Hook, a Collinsville native, was a member of the O’Fallon Police Department when he was named Collinsville’s chief in Sept. 2012.
Evans, 49, was one of several candidates who interviewed for the position, City Manager Scott Williams said. He stood out for “his integrity, experience, and leadership qualities,” Williams said. Williams does not plan to name the other candidates interviewed for the position.
Fairview Heights Police Chief Nick Gailius called Evans an instrumental part of his command. “We’re going to miss him significantly,” Gailius said. “But I know it’s time. He is prepared and he’s ready to assume the role of chief in a fine department such as Collinsville’s.”
Evans was known in the Fairview Heights Police Department for his community involvement, Gailius said. Throughout his career, Evans has planned and developed many community-based programs such as the Citizen’s Police Academy and Collegiate Apprenticeship Career Development Program. He served as the Volunteers in Policing Coordinator and in Youth Initiatives, according to a statement from the City of Collinsville.
Evans, who will begin his duties as chief on Nov. 27, is the second police chief named to replace Williams in the past 14 months. Williams served in the Collinsville Police Department for 24 years, the last seven as the chief, before being named City Manager on Aug. 13, 2012. Van Hook returned to O’Fallon for what he called his dream job. Evan’s name was on the candidate list during the search for Williams’ successor, but he was not interviewed.
In addition to his work with the Fairview Heights Police Department, Evans, has worked as a correctional officer with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and served as a deputy commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Evens has over 25 years of public safety experience, Collinsville officials said.
Evans has advanced training from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, and Command & General Staff from the Illinois Fire Service Institute. He has several degrees in Administration of Justice and Management Practice.
