Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Chris Bitner, Assistant Professor
Stipes Hall
Phone: 309/298-1038
E-mail: CE-Bitner@wiu.edu
Dr. Bitner earned a B.A. in Social Justice Professions from Sangamon State University (1994), an M.A. in Child, Family & Community Services from University of Illinois (2001), and his Doctor of Public Administration from University of Illinois (2013).
Dr. Bitner is a decorated law enforcement officer and military veteran with over 25 years of public service. Prior to joining WIU, he retired as a sergeant from a central Illinois municipal police department that served a community of approximately 34,000 citizens. He worked as a patrol officer, investigator, public information officer, crime stoppers officer, crime prevention officer, school resource officer, juvenile officer, and field training supervisor. He managed multiple departmental functions; such as, writing official policy, the narcan program, vehicle impoundments and seizure, administrative hearings, and background investigations. Additionally, he conducted employee performance evaluations, organized and assigned patrol duties, and developed shift goals and strategies. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bitner was a juvenile probation officer in a central Illinois county with a population of about 180,000 and a residential counselor at two facilities for youths with behavior disorders. He was also a combat medic in the USAF and Illinois ANG.
Dr. Bitner lectures about police performance, workgroups, work-climate and leadership to local, county and state police officers; as well as, correctional officers in Illinois. He has made numerous presentations regarding crime prevention, safety, and asset protection to businesses, civic groups and banks. He has been extensively interviewed by print and television media in central Illinois on issues regarding crime and police services.
Dr. Bitner’s research interests include police workgroups, work-climate, performance, supervision, training, ethics, job satisfaction, health, and leadership. His teaching experiences center around: diversity and ethics, criminal law, homeland security, principles of terrorism, quantitative techniques, research methods, juvenile justice, juvenile delinquency, introduction to criminal justice, crime scene investigations, and contemporary issues in policing.
Dr. Bitner is a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Science and the American Society for Public Administration. He blogs for WIU’s School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and referee’s manuscripts for Law Enforcement Executive Forum and Justice Quarterly journals.
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