Chief Carla Redd is a Rockford native and was in the last graduating class of West High School.  Chief Redd has an Associate Degree in Criminology from Rock Valley College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Northern Illinois University, a certification in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.  In 1998, she joined the ranks of the Rockford Police Department and from day one her focus has been on serving and improving the community at large.  Her law enforcement career began as a patrol officer.  She transitioned to a Field Training Officer, Community Services Officer, Detective and then Sergeant.

Chief Redd became the first black woman to achieve a command rank as a Lieutenant in 2015 and in 2016, she became an Assistant Deputy Chief and District.  Chief Redd served as Assistant Deputy Chief in all of the districts at the police department.  Chief Redd emerged as the best candidate after an exhaustive national search and selection process. She performed best of all candidates in the assessment phase getting highly rated from police chiefs from other cities in the Midwest. She also had the most command staff experience than any other candidate.

 She was selected unanimously by the Rockford Board of Fire & Police Commissioners. Chief Carla Redd Officially took the reins of the Rockford Police department on Aug. 29, 2021. With the strong foundation Chief Redd has in our city, she is “Rockford”.