During her tenure in executive leadership, Kristen discovered that her narrow vision was holding her back believing she needed to fit in and maintain the status quo. As Chris social media account is private, we couldnt get much about her personal life. With only a few weeks before retirement, He is going to sponsor a forum about crime on the west side of Aurora. In 2008 Thomas named her as the first female lieutenant in the history of the department. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Click the button below to start the conversation about having me speak at your next event or conference. He personifies vulnerability, and Ive come to a point where I have no use for the armored facades that people wear. She earned enough respect to become the department's first female lieutenant, commander and chief before retiring last year. Ive had a leadership crush on her ever since because she didnt know me and still helped me. I became a fan of their company as a police department consumer, but my leadership crush developed due to philosophy. And I liked the way she pronounced the word about. She says aboot and I find that adorable. She also graduated from the FBI National Academy and completed a host of other professional programs while working on her second master's degree. Ziman may be described as an "unorthodox police chief" OK, she attaches that description to herself, as well but the new leader of the APD is all about breaking down barriers and, in doing so, busting stereotypes, as well. Were human. ", News updates from the Aurora area delivered every Monday and Wednesday, By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Willie Millers record-setting night becomes emotional one as Lake Station makes history: Ive been waiting for this my whole life, Photos: Chicago Fire season opener at Soldier Field, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Remember, corruption is a serious crime. Find about her age, salary as a police officer, and more. Kristen Ziman, the soon to be disgraced ex-police chief of Aurora, Illinois under investigation for corruption, sexual misconduct and other serious crimes, was emphatically rejected by. We have to do something.". When cops are committing acts of excessive force, I call it as I see it. AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- Aurora's former police chief is talking for the first time about her new job investigating the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. I knew there were several hit and run accidents that he was involved in. Yes, she's heard her share of "horror stories" from female officers over the years, but says she's personally encountered little harassment or discrimination. It's a raw and honest portrayal told by a flawed human about a noble profession suffering an identity crisis. Reimagining Blue is an urgent call to find a way forward, not because the system is broken, but because it can always be better. That report, obtained by the I-Team, amounted to an anatomy of a mass murder case. So-called commanded Kristen Ziman and her "partner" Chris Tunney have personally benefitted. His lifes work is to develop less lethal technology to create more tools for police officers. Ziman loved and respected her father. Its a raw and honest portrayal told by a flawed human about a noble profession suffering an identity crisis. Im committed to sharing the lessons Ive learned and wisdom Ive gained during my 30 years in law enforcement to change the culture of policing, prevent mass shootings and cultivate leadership in our communities and organizations. Im giving her credit, and her making it on my list should be redemption for my thieving. Her picks, not surprisingly, reflected youth and diversity. While Mayor Tom Weisner gets much of the credit for making Aurora a cesspool of corruption and deserves a prison sentence longer than Blago, the truth is he is only part of a much wider problem and isn't even the worst offender. The book is $26 plus tax; 10% discount to AHS members. VIEWER DISCRETION STRONGLY ADVISED: Police in west suburban Aurora have released dashcam video that shows three family members allegedly attacking, beating and strangling a police officer during. We made the mistake of assuming she was an ethical law enforcement official who would do the right thing, a very hard thing, when she was told about crimes, corruption and threats to those who stop the wrongdoing. Larry Scirotto, the former assistant chief of professional standards with the Pittsburgh Police Department. Ziman claims (with no proof) "some members" of the Chicago Police Board had approached her months ago to see if she would be interested in the position as if she had not been seeking it. My leadership crush on Carmen is not due to her decision to run for office. He led the ILACP remarkably well, given that he was never in law enforcement. Ziman, a 30-year veteran of the department, was a finalist last year to succeed former interim Chicago Police. And all I heard was officer Marco Gomez Im shot. "There is nothing that we can do that can undo the pain borne both by the survivors, families of the victims and the community, and the country," Garland said. I became a Cadet at age 17 and retired as the police Chief at 47. She was a school cop, which is much less risky than a street cop.Everyone knows Chris Tunney gets away with being useless because of Kristen. She was the person we expected to do the right thing because that's her job. Reimagining Blue. Ed just retired as the Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. is a passionate and personal analysis of a misunderstood profession from the vantage point of female police chief Kristen Ziman.. Ziman credits her colorful childhood for the temperament that led her to gravitate toward policing, a profession where chaos is all in a day's work. I didnt get on one knee, but a nice bottle of wine convinced him and his wife to say yes. Maybe they could turn one of the hundreds of vacant downtown buildings into a wine bar and bath house. His background is in journalism, and I must have wanted unconsciously to be in that field because I am enamored by it. And, we will not have any sympathy if Chris Tunney ends up there as well. And she knows how to get others to buy into it.". Her first book signing is at the Wyckwood House in Aurora. Kristen Ziman and her partner, Chris, are currently raising their son named Jake, who recently turned 21. The conversation was stimulating, and I was so grateful to be introduced to such a fantastic group of leaders. And so thats really the premise, were all just trying to move about the world. In vivid and personal detail she tells of her inspiring journey from a teenage cadet to police chief of Aurora, Illinois, where she faced her greatest challenge: responding to Illinois's worst mass shooting. Not sure whats best for your organization. Why culture? Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman. I am going to call the chief and mayor myself and ask some more questions. She never backed down and displayed grace under fire like a boss. We have yet to find a single Aurora Police Officer who can explain what she does, how she got "elevated" to detective. And he said theres an active shooter.. In addition to those well-attended forums she hosted last year, Ziman relished her decade as a police columnist for the Beacon-News. Ive watched the formal accountability. And he still manages to talk me off the ledge. One incident that still resonates was when a commander told then-Sgt. With all the wives in the city employ. Ret'd Chief Kristen Ziman: 'If you speak out against guns in the US, you might as well say you hate puppies' Chief Inspector of Constabulary warns over 'fragile' 43-force model and the need to restore public trust; The Police Uplift Programme: A numbers game that threatens to become an unintentional war of attrition Why was it that my dad kept stopping while he was off duty? In a city where crime is so high, a $163 million police palace was "needed." Kristen was recently the #policechief in I look forward to reading (ordered today) and learning from Kristen Ziman's new book, #ReimaginingBlue. Ive had a leadership crush on Keefe since our early years of working together at the Aurora Police Department. I can't fault Chris Tunney, It's not her fault, you must take advantage of the situation. She bypassed many people within the Aurora Police Department with far more competence and experience, let alone people from outside Aurora. Miklosik was one of dozens of visitors who came to lay carnations and pay their respects at the crosses of Vicente Juarez of Oswego, Josh Pinkard of Oswego, Russell Beyer of Bristol, Trevor Wehner of Sheridan and Clayton Parks of Elgin during a day of remembrance event for the shooting's first anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Aurora Historical Society David L. Pierce Art & History Center. Except that there are a billion Grooms working and all the alleged wine drinking and sex parties. Here is what I know: You cant sit around waiting to be motivated or inspired by someone or something. Heart-Focused Leadership through Blue Courage. Ive loved every position in that police department, without a doubt, Ive loved every single rank, but the best one for me was the Chief because I got to watch the officers do great work and thats kind of bringing it full circle. And over the years, Ive watched the evolution of policing. Here's How I can Help Transform Your Organization: A passionate and personal analysis of a misunderstood profession from the vantage point of female Police Chief Kristen Ziman. In Kristen's 30-year career in law enforcement, she blazed trails: she became the first woman Lieutenant in 2008, first woman Commander in 2010, and eventually the first woman Chief in her department's history in January of 2016. And it's finding as many ways as possible, including social media, to connect to this city's residents that will help her become an even stronger leader in these challenging times for police officers. Kristen Ziman , chief executive officer of Kristen Ziman Consulting in Naples where she now lives, is the retired chief of police in Aurora, Illinois. Your email address will not be published. Hed throw the car in park. Besides tougher gun laws, Ziman rejects using mental health as an excuse for mass shooters. He taught me to say NO because he thought I said yes too much. Chief Kristen Ziman has empowered and inspired hundreds of leaders, giving them authentic strategies to develop confidence and operate at higher levels. But, when it comes to Kristen Ziman's schemes, it's different. "She's a boss without being bossy.". "He didn't even stick around to see if I got the job," she says matter-of-factly, admitting she works hard not to show her grief. I met Tom on the pickleball court (how cliche in Florida and yet absolutely true). YUMMY. Because culture eats policy for breakfast. Born and raised in Aurora, Ziman is a firm believer in education, but quickly admits she was no ace student at West High. Shame on you Kristen Ziman. And she isn't afraid to reveal her feelings, personal and professional, on a blog she hopes to eventually expand through her duties as the city's top cop. Kristen Ziman opened up more about the mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company and how it changed her outlook on gun control. And this is why I wanted to be a cop. And I look back at that would never happen today, but it, I think its important that thats why I am the way I am, you know, is to, to know where I come from. ", "It's about treating people with human dignity and respect," Ziman says. It requires consistent exploitation of taxpayers, contracts and an ongoing to scheme to benefit cronies and the political mafia of Aurora. "But it also tells me we have a long way to go. On this edition of Encore, we're looking back at Breaking the Blue Ceiling, originally introduced live on December 9 of 2020. I hope to hear from someone in the know. On February 15, 2019, five employees were shot to death at the Henry Pratt company in Aurora by a just-fired worker. Her last day on the job will be Aug. 6. One of the hardest things Ziman says she's undertaken since taking over the helm Jan. 12 was choosing her top brass among a talented pool of candidates. "People energize me. Josh is a partner at Impact Eleven. I cross paths with thousands of people in my travels, but Davey stands out. It's why last year then-Commander Ziman, upset by so many rumors on social media, pushed for a series of community forums that ended up drawing thousands of residents across the city in an effort to provide the right information about an uptick in local shootings. My friend Michelle dubbed the term leadership crush, and I shamelessly stole the phrase and adopted it as my own. Arquimedes Vallejo of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the new chief will be speaking at four Masses on Palm Sunday to a large congregation mostly from Mexico about the false rumors concerning ICE and the local police. As many of our viewers know well, Aurora has become to second to none for corruption in Illinois, a state with the worst reputation for corruption. ", Still, there were times when she was discouraged. Retired Aurora police chief Kristen Ziman is one of nine experts selected by the Justice Department to review the Uvalde school shooting response. With her extensive background as the first female Lieutenant, Commander, and eventually Chief of the Aurora Police Department, she knows what it takes to blaze trails and make an impact. Tax payers paid for them. In 2003, she became one of the very few females in rank to get promoted to Sergeant. Dunham has the river edge park, Vaughn has an athletic center, Santori has the new library. So that leaves one of the other commanders. Instead, she did the exact opposite and became part of the problem. In addition, her account has a total of 242 posts,2.3k followers, and a following of 904. Click the button below to start the conversation about having me speak at your next event or conference. "There is a totally different atmosphere around here now," says Robinson. Larry Scirotto, the former assistant chief of professional standards with the Pittsburgh Police Department. And we werent focusing on relationship building. More bizarre, as recently as Wednesday, Ziman was boasting with full narcissism that she was ready to move to Chicago and dump Aurora, the city that allowed her to get rich as a cop with no skills, intellect or experience. (City of Aurora) AURORA, IL Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman announced her retirement in a Facebook post Monday afternoon . If youre paying attention, thats the secret sauce. And I defy that because I watched it with my own eyes. In other words, Ziman fully believed she was heading to Chicago when named one of three finalists. She is active on Instagram with her Insta handle@chief_kziman. And another commander ran in and said Chief, are you listened to the radio?, And I wasnt, I had it on, but I wasnt, neither of us were paying attention. Axon is the leader in developing technology products for law enforcement (Taser, Body Cams, Digital Evidence, Virtual Reality, etc.). How and why are their names on them. As impressive as that is, it has nothing to do with my crush on him. He comes to visit me in Naples, and he always calls to check-in. I want to change the hearts and minds one contact at a time.". After becoming a cadet at 17, Kristen Ziman rose through the ranks to become the first female police chief in the history of the Aurora Police Department. So if you look at the two bookends of my career, you would make an assumption that nothing got better in policing. A passionate and personal analysis of a misunderstood profession from the vantage point of female Police Chief Kristen Ziman. And then we just started running, just tripping over each other. With 28 years on the force and looking at retirement next year, Det. And she is. Relatives, Associates, Neighbors. Without the support of her partner and their four children, insists Ziman, "I could never do what I'm doing now they inspire me to do more.". A 17-year-old Kristen Ziman became a cadet for the Aurora Police Department on July 29, 1991. Even in Illinois. Ziman became a cadet with the Aurora Police Department in 1991 at age 17, eventually earning a bachelor's degree from Aurora University and a master's degree from Boston University as she climbed the ranks of the APD. At the same time, she was trying to convince the City of Chicago to go with an outsider (her) over other applicants, including another finalist, the deputy chief from Chicago Police. What youre seeing in those videos is deplorable and theres no defense for it, but those are quite frankly, an anomaly and progressive police departments, progressive leaders have changed our profession into an actual profession over the years. Ziman's views on gun control changed during the funeral of Trevor Wehner, the 21-year-old intern who was one of the five people killed during the 2019 mass shooting at the Henry Pratt plant in Aurora. So, it's ironic now that she's been rejected, what does she blame? And he would go and pull someone out of a vehicle that was on fire. I want you to wake up whats been asleep within you to ignite a spark of excitement for something. However, it turns out the choices weren't even close. Check Background Get Contact Info This Is Me - Edit. . Lets chat about how I can support you to catalyze a movement. When you look at cops and you see an enemy, when you look at people who are different and you see an enemy, when you look at people with whom you disagree, whether it be lifestyle, politics, whatever it may be. Therefore it could be one of the many Grooms that don't want the kingdom broken up. 1) Preparation is the key to everything. We were checking boxes, you know, and that makes community policing a word salad, unless you actually do it. The full podcast is accessible below. "At first I was devastated," she recalls. BLAME GAME Ziman forgets the only reason she is police chief of Aurora is because she rose up the ranks with identity politics, politics and corruption with the political mafia. Grab your Free Chapter and start reading today! And it's that team approach, they agree, that will help the Aurora Police Department thrive even in these challenging times. Deputy Chief Jackson agrees. Beneath the persona is a danger to taxpayers and we will not look the other way. Despite her claims of ignorance, Kristen is well aware of the path to success in Aurora and has chosen to be on the dark side wit the corrupt to gain what she needs. Its hard to hate when youre up close, its easy to hate far away. Naren is my book publisher, and Ive had a crush on him since he called me to tell me he wanted to publish my book but only after he and his team hacked it up! I gave her a card, once, that said she was my hero. Beyond books, Naren has connected me with great people in the publishing and speaking industry, and my life has taken a new trajectory because of him. All Rights Reserved. Kristen Ziman is proving the only identity politics she actually cares about is the identity of Kristen Ziman. Ziman attacked her goal with renewed tenacity and ended up scoring number one on that test. . Transform your team into a productive, cooperative, engaged work unit, ready to respond to any crisis. But when people are committing crimes, I call it as I see it. Because of her experience with Pratt, Ziman has been tapped by the Department of Justice to serve on a task force investigating the police response to the recent Uvalde, Texas mass shooting. Think of the people in your life who have influenced you in some way and make sure you tell them. Women, after all, are the primary caregivers, and law enforcement is tough because of the hours and nature of the work. Nepotism is a big problem at the APD. Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa In Galena Opens New Wellness Destination, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa: To Ski Or Not To Ski, Beginning Friday, October 14, Immersive King Tut Exhibit Opens In Chicago, Chasing Peak Color In Illinois This Fall? Im also available as an on-air expert contributor for radio, television, or other broadcasts. Reach out today. turned into 'why not me?' And honestly, thats my religion right there. Ziman's willingness to acknowledge what went wrong is the kind of approach Justice Department officials appear to be looking for in their post-Uvalde assessment. In my 30 year career at the Aurora Police Department, I blazed trails: I was the first woman Lieutenant, first woman Commander, and eventually the first woman Chief in my department. But the three or four women who answered after me all said their personal hero was their mother. As a teen cadet who came from a family of law enforcers, Ziman always wanted to be a cop. Not like a normal laugh but a snorty laugh. I need that connection," she says. Photos & Social Media. I love all things Canadian (buffalo plaid, hockey, and Justin Trudeau), so I was excited to jump on a zoom and hear her expectations of me for her conference. And thats how you handled something like that. Not sure whats best for your organization. Site by. As long as we arent harming one another, we should be free to pray to the God we choose or love the person we love. Kristen Ziman and her partner, Chris, are currently raising their son namedJake,who recently turned 21. "Something happened to me in the past 25 years," she says. Her 2016 ascension to the top job, making her the first female Chief of Police in Illinois' second-largest city.