Ken Scarlette
Chief of Police, Springfield, Illinois Police Department
2022
Chief Scarlette was appointed Springfield Police Chief on February 15, 2022. Originally from Springfield, Scarlette has been with the Springfield Police Department over 24 years. He served as a full-time officer and in various capacities in the department including as a Neighborhood Police Officer; Honor Guard; Assistant Commander for the Emergency Response Team; Gang Enforcement Unit; Criminal Investigations Division; Administrative Services Division; Deputy Chief of the Field Operations Division; and most recently served as Assistant Chief under Kenny Winslow. Scarlette is a graduate of Sacred Heart-Griffin, Lincoln Land Community College, and Liberty University where he received his Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. He served with the Illinois Air National Guard for six years before being honorably discharged. He also attended the Northwestern School for Staff and Command where he received the Franklin Kreml Leadership Award. Scarlette is a member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Sangamon County Law Enforcement Executives; the Central Illinois Association of Law Enforcement Executives and American Legion post #32.
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
