Harper College

Faculty

Real-world experience and outstanding academic credentials.

Frank Trost 

Ed. D., Governors State University
M.A., Western Illinois University
B.S., National Louis University
ftrost@harpercollege.edu
847.925.6084
Location: Building H-165B

Frank Trost served over 20 years with the Elgin Police Department. He started as a patrol officer and also served as an undercover narcotics detective. He progressed through the ranks being promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and commander. He oversaw patrol shifts and special divisions and as a commander, his role oversaw the Strategic Initiative division that included all the department's community-based operations and initiatives. He served on the honor guard and was a SWAT team member for 18 years. Prior to his law enforcement career, he served on active duty in the United States Army in the infantry.

Heidi Onion

M.A., Western Illinois University
M.S., Benedictine University
Oh35078@harpercollege.edu 
847.925.6410
Location: Building H-169

Heidi Onion retired from Law Enforcement in 2022 after 28 years of service. She spent 22 years with the Roselle Police Department (Retired in 2016) and then 6 years with the College of Lake County Police Department. During her career at Roselle, she was a Patrol Officer, Juvenile Officer, Officer-in-Charge, DARE/Crime Prevention Coordinator, Special Olympics/Torch Run Coordinator, and a Defensive Tactics Instructor. She also spent 5 years in the Investigations Division as a Detective. During her time with the College of Lake County Police Department, she was the Defensive Tactic/Use of Force/Taser Training Coordinator.

Kenneth B. Blachut

B.S., Lewis University
M.S., Lewis University
Ed.D., N.I.U.
kblachut@harpercollege.edu

Blachut brings 40+ years of law enforcement expertise to the classroom through his experience as a Chicago police cadet and as a dispatcher, patrol officer, tactical officer, detective, detective corporal, detective sergeant and detective commander at the Norridge Police Department. Blachut has taught criminal justice classes at University of Illinois at Chicago, Kaplan University and Harper College. He is state licensed breathalyzer operator and private detective.

Tom Biesty

IIT Chicago – Kent College of Law, Juris Doctorate
St John’s University, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
tbiesty@harpercollege.edu

Former 27-year prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office currently utilizing long history of prosecutorial excellence to teach others within the law community.  A former decorated New York City Police Officer and a trailblazer in prosecuting first time cases at the state level.  Ability to translate complex legal theories to practical use for both law enforcement and criminal prosecutors.

Dan Burch

B.S. Criminal Justice Administration - Columbia College of Missouri
dburch@harpercollege.edu

Dan Burch has served a suburban police department for the past 22 years.  During this time, he held numerous positions including Patrol Officer, Police K9 handler, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Commander, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Police. Specialty assignment held by Mr. Burch during this time include evidence technician, department evidence custodian, and SWAT operator, among others. Mr. Burch primarily teaches the Forensic course at Harper College.

Wayne Gregory

wgregory@harpercollege.edu

Wayne Gregory. A multi-sport champion with over 30 years of world-class training experience – Wayne’s inspirational coaching style and second-to-none conditioning have made him one of the most sought after trainers in the world for Mixed Martial Artists, Professional Athletes and Celebrities.

Bruce Johnson

B.S., Lewis University
M.S., Lewis University
bjohnson@harpercollege.edu

Mr. Johnson served with the Morton Grove and Schaumburg Police Departments and retired as the Chief of Police for the Round Lake Park Police Department. He is a Past-President of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association. His academic credentials include a Master of Science Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He is a Subject Matter Expert for the Bureau of Justice Assistance National Training and Technical Assistance Center and CNA Strategic Policing Innovations. Mr. Johnson retired as a Chief Warrant Officer after more than 28 years of service in the United States Marine Corps.

Michael Kirby

A.A.  Criminal Justice Administration – Triton College
mkirby@harpercollege.edu

Michael Kirby has served as a police officer in Illinois for the past 40 years. During this time he has held numerous positions including, Patrol officer, Tactical officer, Juvenile officer, Detective, and Patrol Sergeant. Specialty assignments held by Mr. Kirby during this time includes, evidence technician, SWAT operator, DARE officer, Forensic supervisor for the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force, and a Forensic supervisor for the Major Case Assist Team – Officer Involved Death Unit. Mr. Kirby has also been teaching forensic training to police officers within the State of Illinois for over 25 years.

Robert Lessnau

M.A., Western Illinois University
B.A., Roosevelt University
A.A., Harper College
rlessnau@harpercollege.edu

Postal Inspector Robert Lessnau has over 26-years of law enforcement at both the federal and state level. Inspector Lessnau is currently assigned to the mail fraud team, where he investigates large scale fraud schemes involving the U.S. Mail. Prior to becoming a Postal Inspector, Inspector Lessnau served as a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While at DHS, Inspector Lessnau investigated cases involving Child Exploitation, Counter-Terrorism, European and African Human Rights War Crimes, Drugs and Money Laundering, and Internal Affairs cases. Additionally, Inspector Lessnau served as a police officer and detective with the Prospect Heights police department where he served as an evidence technician, juvenile officer, and accident investigator. Inspector Lessnau is also a FAA Certified UAS-Drone Operator.

Jodi Levit

B.A., University of Wisconsin
M.S., University of Illinois
jlevit@harpercollege.edu

Jodi Levit's experience includes holding positions as a criminal intelligence analyst at the Illinois State Police Department and as a Correctional Officer and Correctional Counselor at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago. Levit teaches criminal justice, corrections, juvenile justice and criminology at Harper College.

Maria McCarthy

B.A. University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Juris Doctorate, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
mmccarth@harpercollege.edu

Maria McCarthy has been an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for over 29 years.  She was the Deputy Supervisor of the Traffic Division, and has supervised the Domestic Violence Division and the Homicide-Sex Unit.  Maria is currently the Supervisor at the Third Municipal District in Cook County.  Maria was previously an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law and the John Marshall Law School. She conducts trainings for the Chicago Police Department’s new detectives and for their Lead Homicide Detective certification classes. In addition, Maria conducts trainings for police officers on fifth and sixth amendment issues through Northeast Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT).  She also teaches trial advocacy skills to prosecutors throughout the state of Illinois for the Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutors Office.

Mark Misek

M.A., Governor’s State University
B.S., Western Illinois University

Mark Misek has been a member of the Frankfort Police Department for the past 25 years where he currently serves as a patrol sergeant. He started his career as a patrolman in 1997 with the Blue Island Police Department. During his time with the Frankfort Police Department, he has served as a senior patrol officer, evidence technician, accident reconstructionist, field training officer, traffic specialist, and was in charge of sex offender registrations. He became an adjunct instructor for Harper College in 2018 and Oakton College in 2019. He primarily teaches Forensics at Harper College, but has also been an adjunct instructor for a variety of criminal justice-related classes.

Bruce A. Morris

M.S. DePaul University
B.S. Illinois State University
bmorrisj@harpercollege.edu

Commander Bruce A. Morris Jr. has served the residents of Palatine and the Palatine Police Department since September of 1999. He received the rank of Commander in January of 2021. Cmdr. Morris is currently assigned as the Evening Shift Watch Commander where he oversees a patrol shift of over 30 officers and supervisors.  Prior to this he held the position of Planning & Research Commander where his duties included being the Public Information Officer for the department. During his career in Palatine, he served as a Sergeant to patrol and the Crime Scene Technicians (CST) unit, managed a crime lab, and coordinated departmental training for the CST unit. Cmdr. Morris' patrol experience includes gang crime investigations, field training new officers, and performing the duties as a crime scene technician and juvenile officer.

Bernie Murray

B.A. University of Illinois, Chicago
Juris Doctorate, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago
bmurray@harpercollege.edu

Bernie Murray served as the Chief, Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for 25 years, and prosecutor and supervisor of felony trial prosecutors for the DuPage County States Attorney’s Office for another 5 years.  His extensive experience and knowledge in the State’s Attorney’s Office allows him to bring practical application to the Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses.

Andrew Olech

B.A., Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL
oa38895@harpercollege.edu

Andrew Olech has served with the Palatine Police Department for 15 years where he is assigned as a Patrol Sergeant.  He currently oversees the Forensic Unit for the police department, is a State Instructor for Forensics, and serves as a Forensic Supervisor for the multi-jurisdictional homicide task force (MCAT).  Andrew is a Board Member for the Illinois Division of the International Association of Identification and has created multiple curriculums through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for task force training.

Stephen Schmidt

B.A. University of Illinois Chicago, major in Criminal Justice
M.S. National Louis University, Management and Development of Human Resources
F.B.I. National Academy Session #209
Senior Executive Institute, Weldon Center for Public Service, University of Virginia
The Executive Management Program, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
School of Police Staff & Command, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
sschmid2@harpercollege.edu

Served for 41 ½ years with the Elk Grove Village Police Department rising through the ranks to Chief of Police. As a police officer, was assigned in patrol, accident investigator, field evidence technician, field training officer, criminal investigator, crime prevention. As a sergeant assigned to patrol and criminal court department liaison. Served as a deputy chief for 10 years and led both the Field Services Division and Support Services Division. Served as Chief of Police for 17 years. Held several positions in law enforcement associations and in local organizations. Has taught at Harper College for 25 years. Is currently a Village Trustee for Elk Grove Village.

Eric Tellschow

B.A., Western Michigan University
M.A., DePaul University
Chicago Police Academy
etellsch@harpercollege.edu

Tellschow is a former Harper student and a retired Police Officer from the Bartlett Police Department. Tellschow served as an instructor in Defensive Tactics, CPR/First Aid, Firearms, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), and Drug/Gang Suppression Tactics. Tellschow held positions as a Tactical Emergency Medical Service Officer (TEMS) with the Bartlett Police entry team (SPEAR), was a member of the Tactical Unit, Crime Prevention Unit, Major Crimes Assistance Team (MCAT Surveillance), and a member of the Patrol Unit. Tellschow is a state certified Evidence Technician, Juvenile Officer, Drugged Driver Detection Officer, as well as a state certification in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. Tellschow has instructed at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) and teaches Criminal Justice and Criminology at Harper.

Brian Growney

B.A., University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Louisville, Administrative Officer's Course #144
gb34034@harpercollege.edu

Brian served in the United States Navy before starting his law enforcement career in 2001 with the Palatine Police Department, where he is currently the Investigations Commander. During his career, Brian has been a juvenile officer, gang/narcotics investigator, firearms instructor, FBI task force officer, and a member of the Cook County Major Case Assistance Team.


Last Updated: 9/19/24