Command Staff
Command Staff
Kevin Booker, Chief of Police
Contact
Email: bookerk5@uic.edu
About
Chief Kevin L. Booker brings extensive experience in law enforcement and higher education public safety to his role as Chief of Police for the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department. His career includes service as a Community Service Officer at Indiana State University Police Department, Police Officer at Purdue University Police Department, Commander and Deputy Chief at the University of Chicago Police Department, and Adjunct Professor at Ivy Tech State College.
Chief Booker holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology with a minor in Public Administration and a Master of Science in Public Administration from Indiana State University. He is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the FBI National Academy, the Executive Development Training Institute at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, and the Harvard Executive Education Program.
Chief Booker is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), Collegiate Athletic Operations Services (CAOS), and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He is committed to advancing professional standards in policing and supporting the development of future leaders in the field.
DC Huertas
Contact
Email: jhuertas@uic.edu
About
Deputy Chief Jason Huertas has served the University of Illinois Chicago community since 2002. Before assuming his current role, he held the ranks of Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, and Patrolman, overseeing and supporting operations across multiple divisions, including Support Operations and Internal Affairs. Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous departmental programs, serving as a Field Training Officer and Program Coordinator, Range Officer and Range Master, Evidence Technician and Program Coordinator, Taser Instructor and Program Coordinator, and a member and Program Coordinator of the Department Honor Guard. He was also assigned to the Investigations Unit as part of the UICPD/CPD Joint Robbery Task Force.
A native of New York City, Deputy Chief Huertas graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx before serving as a Rifleman in the United States Marine Corps from 1994 to 1998. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Northeastern Illinois University. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command.
DC Batis
Contact
Email: mbatis1@uic.edu
About
Deputy Chief Michael Batis is a law enforcement professional with more than 26 years of experience in policing and investigations. He began his career with the Joliet Police Department in 1997, serving as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Deputy Chief of Police. His work in these roles provided extensive experience in community policing, criminal investigations, special operations, and the use of emerging technologies in law enforcement. He also served as a Special Agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, investigating a wide range of insurance fraud cases in partnership with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.
Deputy Chief Batis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois Chicago and an MBA from Benedictine University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University. His professional memberships include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA), and the National Technical Investigators Association (NATIA), with previous memberships in the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association (IDEOA) and the Illinois Homicide Investigators Association (ILHIA).
Deputy Chief Batis is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a Navigator on KC‑130 aircraft from 1987 to 1993.
Captain Justin Wooden
Contact
Email: woodenj@uic.edu
About
Captain Justin Wooden has served with the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department since 2006. He has worked in and supervised several sections of the department, including Patrol, the Field Training Officer Program, the Critical Incident Scenario Program, the Investigations Unit, and Special Events. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2019, overseeing the Investigations Unit, the Police Advancing Community Engagement Unit, Crime Statistics, and Special Events.
Captain Wooden currently oversees the Internal Affairs Unit, Crime Statistics Unit, Technical Services Unit, and the Police Advancing Community Engagement Unit.
Lt. Steven Hong
Contact
Email: hongs@uic.edu
About
Lieutenant Steven Hong was sworn in as a UIC Police Officer in 2006 and currently oversees the Patrol Operations Division. He supervises nine Police Sergeants and thirty‑two Patrol Officers across three shifts, supporting the department’s mission to maintain a safe learning and working environment for the university community.
Lt. Hong began his law enforcement career as a police officer at Northern Illinois University and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. During his time at UICPD, he has served in multiple roles, including Evidence Technician, Field Training Officer, and Technical Services Officer. He has also served as an instructor and later coordinator for the Defensive Tactics, Evidence Technician, and Tactics and Scenario Programs, eventually becoming the Sergeant of Support Operations.
Born in South Korea, Lt. Hong immigrated to the United States at the age of four and grew up in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Jose Javier Bermudez, Lieutenant
Contact
Email: jbermud@uic.edu
Lt. Williams
Contact
Email: twmsjr@uic.edu
Jeff Jamrock, Manager
Contact
Email: jamrok@uic.edu
About
Jeff Jamrok leads the UICPD Communications Center, which answers emergency and non-emergency calls for service on campus and dispatches police and security units. He brings a strong work ethic to the role and is committed to supporting the professional and personal growth of his team.
Jeff has worked in 9-1-1 telecommunications since 2004 and joined the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department in December 2021 as Communications Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University and has held positions in several 9-1-1 centers, including Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, where he served as a Police Communications Operator II and Local 21 Union Steward. He also supervised communications operations at the Laraway Communications Center in Will County and at the Elgin Police Department.
Jeff holds multiple certifications through APCO, including Telecommunicator I, Certified Training Officer, Emergency Medical Dispatch Dispatch Center Supervisor, Disaster Operations in the Communications Center, and Registered Public Safety Leader. He is additionally certified through PowerPhone in law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical dispatch and serves as a PowerPhone call assessor. Jeff is a certified BLS and CPR instructor through the American Heart Association and recently completed the EMT-B program at Kishwaukee College. Outside of public safety communications, he is a licensed Realtor in Illinois and is pursuing his pilot’s license.
Jesica Lopez-Huskey, PIO
Contact
Email: jesicalh@uic.edu
About
Jesica Lopez-Huskey serves as the Public Information Officer for the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department in a joint role with Strategic Marketing and Communications, a position she has held since 2024. In this role, she develops and leads safety-related messaging, digital content, media relations, and campus-wide communication efforts that inform, educate, and empower the UIC community. Jesica brings more than eight years of experience in strategic communication and public safety, drawing on a background that includes work with major Hollywood studios as well as public safety agencies.
Jesica’s career in public safety communications began in 2016 as the first Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist for the University of Kentucky Police Department, where she supported community policing initiatives and safety outreach. She has presented at major national law enforcement conferences, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), recognized as leading forums for advancing policing practices. Her presentations have focused on effective communication and the use of storytelling to strengthen engagement between police departments and the communities they serve. Jesica has completed specialized media relations training through the FBI‑LEEDA program and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Claremont McKenna College.
Kristin, HR
Contact
Email: kristint@uic.edu
About
Kristin N. Thomas joined the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department in January 2016 and oversees the department’s human resources operations. Her responsibilities include recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, performance management, salary administration, training and compliance, policy review, records management, employee relations, compensation, payroll, and employee benefits. She supports the department’s long‑term strategic objectives by implementing HR practices that promote consistency, accountability, and organizational growth.
Prior to joining UICPD, Kristin served as a Human Resource Generalist for UIC Facilities Management and the Office for Capital Planning. She is a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM‑CP) and holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University. Kristin is an active member of SHRM and is committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and development‑focused workplace.