Lieutenant Bill Collins

Lieutenant Bill Collins joined the Black Hawk College Public Safety Department in 1984 and is currently the evening shift commander responsible for training, scheduling staff, the Illinois Crime Report and the College key control. After graduating from Rock Island High School in 1962, Bill’s experiences were diverse. He pumped gas, worked as a hospital custodian, worked heavy equipment construction, drove school buses, and worked as a home delivery milkman in a “stand-up and drive” milk truck. Working off and on at International Harvester’s foundry, machine shops, and plant protection, Bill was fortunate enough to secure a retirement before the plants closed. In 1968, at age 24, he claims to have found his passion in police service and joined the Rock Island Police Department. Bill felt the importance of a continued education and while a rookie police officer began part-time courses at Black Hawk’s new campus in 1969. In 1975 (still a die-hard part- time student) Bill finally earned an Associates Degree in Law Enforcement. Currently Bill is only a few courses short of a BA degree at Western Illinois University (part-time, of course). Bill became Field Training Officer and received a number of commendations for arrests and report writing while serving his 10 years with the Rock Island Police Department. Additionally, he has worked as Jail Counselor in the Rock Island County Jail, managing inmate’s money, investigating jailhouse criminality and inmate grievances. Bill was the guy who could grant or remove an inmate’s good time. In his spare time, Bill says he’s out of control improving his house and yard. He also loves to play on the piano and home computer. Bill met Debbi Valentine in high school and married her in 1965. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Back to Safety & Campus Police Personnel Page