EIU police Chief Receives State Award
Friday, 12 April 2024
Eastern Illinois University's police chief Marisol Gamboa was recgonized and earned the Chicago Association of Women in Law Enforcement (CAWLE) award last month.
The CAWLE award was presented to Gamboa at the organization’s annual Women’s History Month event.
CAWLE celebrates women in criminal justice through networking, mentoring, educating, and preserving their history.
"I, along with President Gatrell and the entire EIU community, are grateful to have Chief Gamboa as leader of our University Police Department. The progress she has made in changing the culture and instilling a spirit of community policing has been significant." EIU Vice president for Student Affairs Dr. Anne Flaherty said.
Gamboa is a first-generation American and college graduate.
She began her career as a patrol officer in Texas and eventually moved to Illinois to take over as EIU’s Chief of Police in January 2022.
She is the first Latina police chief in the State of Illinois.
Gamboa's colleague Sgt. Jo Ann Armenta also shared her thoughts on Gamboa's award VIA email to EIU leadership.
"As a proud Latina in law enforcement, I cannot tell you how important it was to me and other Latinas in law enforcement to have Chief Gamboa there to be recognized by so mnay police VIPs, and to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other Latinas." Armenta said.
