Wey-ni Langdon has been the field of law enforcement for over 10 years. She currently serves as a police officer with the Chicago Police Department. She started her career in 2007 at the Northern Illinois University Police Department. While at NIU PD, she served in several different capacities including Patrol, Investigations, Crime Analysis & Planning and much more. Wey-ni was instrumental in developing positive relationships between the community and police department. She was influential in creating the NIU PD Community Policing Unit while implementing the first NIU Citizens Police Academy. Wey-ni is also a Medal of Valor recipient from the NIU Police Department and the DeKalb Police Department.
Throughout her career, Wey-ni has been blessed with many mentors who have provided her with a wealth of knowledge and guidance. Her passion for creating Women of the Shield was to create an event and space where women in law enforcement can be celebrated among their peers while offering women support and encouragement. She also wanted to provide an opportunity for people to be educated on the struggles women have faced in the criminal justice system and celebrate their determination to over come obstacles. Her desire to “pay it forward” constantly keeps her motivated to work with the community and encourage young women to pursue careers in law enforcement. In her spare time, Wey-ni loves spending time with her family including her fur baby, Sir Duke Mix-a-Lot and traveling.
CElvia Williams has served in the field of law enforcement for over 31 years. Currently, she serves as Police Chief to Richton Park Police Department since 2010. She has been instrumental in developing positive relationships between the community and police department. During her tenure, Chief Williams has received several awards and is currently the Chair of the NEMRT Training and Curriculum Committee, Vice-Chair of the South Suburban Major Crimes Taskforce and a member of the NOBLE National Training Committee.
Elvia is married to Bishop Ronnie White and together they have 6 children and 10 grandchildren. She holds a B.S. from Loyola University Chicago and a M.A. from Hampton University. Elvia is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Oregon Executive Institute for Senior Law Enforcement and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.
Wendy is the managing Partner at Siepert West Financial Consulting, a full service financial planning firm. Her other endeavors include board service for Kishwaukee United Way, Ladies Night Out, Oakcrest Retirement Center and IHSA Destination DeKalb, the state high school championships in DeKalb, IL. Wendy moved to DeKalb to attend Northern Illinois University, and is still an avid Huskies fan! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her step daughter Mia, nephews Jake and Brandon, and her Dachshund, Frankie (aka Frank the Tank).
Wendy’s passion for supporting law enforcement comes from a multitude of family and friends who are in law enforcement and the military. She is married to Robbie, a Sergeant with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.
Carmen Gercone is a 26 year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. She began her career as a deputy sheriff in 1994; and currently serves as the 1st Assistant Executive Director of the Court Services and Civil Division. During her tenure, Carmen has assisted in writing policies, directing operations, and implementing procedures that have directly benefited victims of Domestic Violence. She served on Chief Judge Timothy Evan’s committee on Domestic Violence (DV) and has provided ongoing training regarding the service of Protective Orders through the Short Form Notification for the Sheriff’s office, the Presiding Judge of the DV Division, and the Chicago Police Department. In 2013, Carmen attended the prestigious FBI National Academy and is a proud member of session #252. Since her graduation from the National Academy (NA), Carmen has continued to participate and currently serves on the FBI National Academy Northern Illinois Division Board. Carmen is currently the only female member of the FBINAA Illinois board.
Carmen also enjoys community outreach. She participates in the Sheriff’s Office Senior Academy and provides an overview of the Court Services department and the Civil Division to the participants. Carmen partners with schools and social service agencies to provide gifts during the winter holiday season, clothing and blankets during the spring, books for students during the summer, and backpacks filled with school supplies in the fall. When she is not at work, Carmen enjoys spending time with her husband, Mike, and their 5 children, and 3 grandchildren. She believes in compassion, respect, and doing for others EXACTLY what she does for her own family; nothing less is acceptable.