Bill Evans' Tenure As JPD Chief: Violent Crime Dropped, Shootings Declined Despite 2024 Mass Murder Spree

JOLIET, IL —After several years of internal turmoil and constant turnover at the top of the Joliet Police Department, outside hire Bill Evans brought stability to the city of Joliet and there has been significant decrease in violent crime and overall shootings during Evans' four-plus years as chief of police.

On Tuesday morning, Joliet Patch broke another exclusive story, revealing that Evans will be honored at aretirement party at the historic Union Train Station in downtown Joliet in May. The invitations for Evans' retirement party have already been sent out. For reasons unclear, the city of Joliet has yet to publicize Evans' retirement by way of a press release or a Facebook announcement.

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Joliet Patch has chronicled Evans in multiple stories throughout his four-year tenure leading the Joliet Police Department.

Under his leadership, Evans was a regular presence at major crime scenes and police standoffs involving persons barricaded inside a house armed with weapons. Chief Evans also led several major press conferences to announce arrests in high-profile murders, drug and gun investigations, and, most recently, last week's news conference to announce the arrest of a now-fired Plainfield School District gym teacher who is accused of pursuing sexual relationships with girls at the Aux Sable Middle School — even after being fired by the school district in March.

Romeo Nance, Joliet Mass Murderer, Dies In Texas: Romeo Nance Murder Spree

January 2024

Romeo Nance, the 23-year-old Joliet criminal defendant who was suspected of killing seven people on the street where he lived, West Acres Road, plus a 28-year-old man from Nigeria at Joliet Township's Pheasant Run apartments over the weekend, took his own life in Texas.

Nance died at a gas station in Natalia, Texas. During the investigation, Joliet police detectives said they quickly identified Nance as their prime suspect in the homicides on West Acres Road, and it was believed he was also involved in a fatal shooting being investigated by the Will County Sheriff’s Office as well as a non-fatal shooting in the city of Joliet.

Joliet police said five gunshot victims were found at 2212 West Acres Road and two more of the slain gunshot victims at 2225 West Acres Road. Romeo Nance had lived at 2212 West Acres Road.

No Foul Play In Any Of Joliet's Des Plaines River Deaths: Chief Evans

June 2024

At the Joliet Police Department public safety forum, Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans addressed the number of lives lost over the past several years in the city's Des Plaines River canal. Chief Evans wanted everyone in attendance at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park to know that none of the river deaths was the result of a homicide, not a single death.

"I wanted to make a statement about the river deaths, and I promised you I would do that, and I put together a statement that I think will resonate with you ... It's important for me to cover this issue,"Chief Evans explained at the forum. "Over the past few years our city has experienced a series of tragic events in which numerous individuals have been discovered deceased in the Des Plaines River ... These deaths are profoundly troubling and, understandably, have sparked fear and speculation. Each life that is lost is a tragedy, and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the families and the friends of those that are grieving. While each case is unique, each case has been investigated by our investigations division with a goal of learning the truth about what actually happened and offering even a glimmer of closure to those loved ones.

"So far, our investigation has not uncovered any evidence to support the belief that these deaths has resulted from any act of foul play," Joliet's chief declared. "Each case is uniquely complex and while there are similarities in the locations where the victims were found, the circumstances surrounding every death vary significantly."

21 Mugshots Released By Joliet Police In Operation Streetsweeper

September 2024

Several of the Joliet area's most wanted criminal defendants were rounded up by the Joliet Police Department during the past 24 hours as part of a no-nonsense initiative involving Police Chief Bill Evans and Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow called Operation Streetsweeper.

"I am pleased to report that Operation Streetsweeper has resulted in the arrest of 21 individuals for a wide range of offenses such as aggravated battery with a firearm, narcotics delivery, burglary, felony theft, and felony retail theft, among other felony offenses. Many, if not all, of those arrested are repeat offenders who have continued to pose a threat to our community," Chief Evans said.

Joliet's police chief went on to say: "We will not tolerate senseless acts of violence in our community. If you choose to engage in illegal activities that threaten the safety of our residents, know this—you will be located, you will be arrested, and you will be held accountable. We have zero tolerance for those who terrorize our neighborhoods, harm innocent people, or contribute to the cycle of violence. Our officers, along with our local and federal partners, are dedicated to tracking down and bringing to justice anyone who believes they can escape the consequences of their actions."

Violent Crime Declines In Joliet For Third Straight Year

December 2025

At the first Joliet City Council meeting last December, Joliet's Police Chief Bill Evans gave an update on violent crime statistics for the first 11 months of 2025.

There were a total of 386 shooting incidents across the city of Joliet — at the same time the previous year, there had been 614 shooting calls, Evans pointed out, marking a reduction of 37 percent.

"Making it the third year in a row that the Joliet Police Department has seen considerable reduction in total shootings," Evans remarked.

A total of 211 guns were confiscated by Joliet police during the first 11 months of 2025; the 2024 totals at this time were 183. Evans said "seven guys on the tactical team" have been responsible for over 75 of those guns" being seized in 2025.

Evans credited Joliet's use of the FLOCK license plate reader camera system for helping solve many of the city's violent crimes. More than 60 FLOCK cameras are placed across Joliet and Joliet has also installed five "live feed cameras in strategic places throughout the city," Evans noted.

Evans noted that homicides continue to drop. Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English informed Joliet Patch that the agency has tallied only two homicides so far in 2025.

Evans said that a day does not go by without someone in the community visiting the police station to offer prayers, food or encouragement. "In fact, Burger King was there today," Evans told the Council.

"It's comforting to know that our neighbors stand behind us and although we do know we still have a lot of work to do, we are seeing small decreases in burglaries in motor vehicles and thefts and decreases in residential burglaries ... We are committed to serving everyone with professionalism, integrity and compassion," Evans explained.

Little Boy, Mom Murdered In Joliet: Chief Bill Evans Says Gunman Is Under Police Guard At Loyola

January 25, 2026:

Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans held a Sunday afternoon press conference at the police station, revealing that the gunman who ended the lives of a 4-year-old boy and the child's 36-year-old mother was now being guarded by police officers at the Loyola Medical Center in Maywood.

The chief said the gunman sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his lower leg following Sunday morning's killings of the mother and child. Joliet police said both gunshot victims were found dead at the scene.

The killer subsequently shot himself outside in the snow, near the railroad tracks of the old EJ&E Railroad, along Ward Avenue. The slayings happened at 718 Garnsey Ave., the chief announced.

Joseph D. Johnson, who comes from University Park, was charged with several counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Sunday morning killings of little Gianni Reyes and his mother, Joselynn Diaz-Garcia, on Joliet's east side. Charges were filed Wednesday just before noon. Court documents actually listed Johnson as living at the house at 718 Garnsey Avenue where the shootings happened. He is 29 years old. Court files show that a total of six charges of murder were filed.

April 2026:

Joliet Police Chief Evans led last week's press conference at City Hall, revealing how an undercover investigation was used to lure former Aux Sable Middle School teacher Alex Buetikofer to the Yorkville McDonald's restaurant, where he wasarrested in connection with charges accusing him of trying to have sex with adolescent girls at his Joliet school.

Following processing, Buetikofer was taken to the Kendall County Jail.

"Alex Buetikofer was in a position of trust. He was a teacher. He was an adult placed in a role of authority and responsibility over young people," Evans said. "Parents trust teachers to provide guidance, support, and a safe learning environment for their children. Students should be able to look at educators as people who are there to protect them, encourage them, and help them grow. Based on this investigation, trust was seriously violated in the most abhorrent fashion conceivable.

"When someone uses a position of authority in an attempt to create inappropriate personal relationships with students, that is not only unacceptable but also a profound abuse of the trust
placed in them by families, schools, and the community. Conduct of this nature undermines the sense of safety that every child deserves in and around the school environment.
This case goes way beyond inappropriate communication. It is about an adult who was entrusted with the care and supervision of students allegedly using that position for personal and exploitative purposes. That betrayal reaches far beyond the individual victims. It affects families, classmates, school staff, and the larger community that depends on trusted adults to do the right thing..."