CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Police Deputy Chief will be retiring after more than 26 years of service to the city.
Geoff Coon, a 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois, will mark his last day with the Champaign Police Department on January 10, according to a news release from the City of Champaign.
“Geoff Coon is an exceptional officer, reflecting the highest standard of law enforcement and encouraging those around him to rise to the challenge,” said Police Chief Timothy T. Tyler in a statement. “He has managed complex units, applied for federal grants, and trained a generation of police officers to excel in their work. For that, we give our thanks.”
Coon was hired as a patrol officer in 1998. Prior to that, he served six years in the Illinois Army National Guard before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Illinois.
During his time with the Champaign Police Department, Coon spent three years on the Walking Unit, a proactive unit with an emphasis on Problem-Oriented Policing. Coon was selected as a department representative to serve as an inspector with the Illinois State Police Task Force Ten, a multi-jurisdictional unit handling complex narcotics investigations.
He also served as a Sergeant from 2003-2021, serving as a Field Training Sergeant, K9 Unit Supervisor, and spending seven years as the department’s Training Sergeant. In January 2021, Coon was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the Investigations Division.
He served as Interim Deputy Chief of Operational Support from December 2021- October 2022, when he was permanently promoted to the position. From 2014 -2024, Coon served as the Law Enforcement Coordinator for Crime Stoppers of Champaign County.
He was recognized by the Illinois State Crime Stoppers Association as Law Enforcement Coordinator of the Year from 2016-2019, and again in 2021 and 2023. Coon was selected by Crime Stoppers USA as the National Coordinator of the Year in 2024.
Furthermore, Coon is a recipient of four City Employee Awards for teamwork and one for Personal Integrity, nine Department Commendations, and in 2013 he received the Champaign Police Department’s Medal of Valor.
“I am thankful for the support of my team and the opportunities for community collaboration during my 26 years of service with the Champaign Police Department,” said Coon. “I am especially proud of my time working with Crime Stoppers, an organization that does so much to help our officers to solve cases and keep our community safe.”