Chief Chief
Pat Maher- Enforcement/Patrol

Chief Deputy
Michael O’Leary-
Adult Detention Facility

Deputy Chief
Nate Romeo -
Support Services

Deputy Chief
James Kuzma-
Court Services

Deputy Chief
Nick Ficarello-
Special Operations

Deputy Chief
David Van Dyke-
Enforcement / Patrol

Deputy Chief
Jerry Nudera -
Adult Detention Facility

Deputy Chief
John McDowell -
Adult Detention Facility

Undersheriff Martin N. Nowak has over 31 years of service with the Will County Sheriff's Office. He has previously served in the Enforcement, Detention, and Administration Divisions. He holds a BA and MA in Business and Public Service from Governors State University, an MS in Social Justice from Lewis University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has published several articles in professional journals on topics dealing with training, corrections and law enforcement management issues.

Undersheriff Nowak is a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and an Army veteran of Operation Just Cause in Panama. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve at the rank of Colonel. He and his wife Bridget reside in New Lenox, Illinois and are the parents of two sons.

Deputy Chief Pat Maher has been a member of the Will County Sheriff’s Office since 1981. He has worked in the patrol and warrants divisions. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1989 and to Lieutenant in 1996. He began the prototype Community Policing Service Area in the Homer Township Area in 1994. Graduated from Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command in 1998 (Class #115). he is a Certified Instructor of Police Ethics through the Institute of Ethics.

Deputy Chief Pat Maher graduated in 1975 from Joliet East High School. He graduated in 1977 from Joliet Junior College with an Associate Degrees in Law Enforcement and Applied Sciences. He graduated in 1979 from Western Il. University with a Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement Administration, with a Security Administration minor.

Deputy Chief Pat Maher is a lifelong Will County, Joliet area native. He Currently resides in Elwood with his wife and two children.

Chief Deputy Michael O’Leary joined the Will County Sheriff’s Department in January of 2003 after retiring from the Illinois Department of Corrections with over 29 years of service. While with the Illinois Department of Corrections he served in a variety of posts including Warden of the Stateville Correctional Center, Deputy Director and Deputy Chief of Operations.

Chief Deputy O’Leary holds a B.A. Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a specialty area in Corrections from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

Deputy Chief Kuzma has been a member of the Sheriff's Office since 1984. He started his career in the patrol division and rose up the ranks as a Sergeant and Lieutenant. He has served in the Corrections Division and was a team leader of the Special Operations Group. He served as the central Community Oriented Policing Service Areas (COPSA) lieutenant prior to being promoted to Deputy Chief in 1998.

Deputy Chief Kuzma is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 186. He graduated from Joliet Junior College with an Associates Degree in Law Enforcement and an Associates Degree in Arts and Science.

He and his wife, Cindy, have two children and reside in Homer Township.

Deputy Chief Nick Ficarello is currently in charge of the Special Operations Division, which covers general, narcotics, gang, and fugitive warrant investigations, along with homeland security. He has been employed by the Will County Sheriff's Department since March 1978. Prior to being promoted to Deputy Chief he was a Lieutenant in the patrol division in charge of a contract-policing unit in the Village of Homer Glen. In the past he has served in patrol, the investigations division, the Will County Sheriff's Gang Unit, and the Will County Cooperative Assistance Team in an undercover role.

Deputy Chief Ficarello is a graduate of the F.B.I. Academy class 206 and a graduate of Joliet Junior College. He has recently recieved a Bachelors of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Govenors State Univeristy and is currently seeking a Masters Degree in Public Administration also from Govenors State.

Deputy Chief David Van Dyke has been a member of the Will County Sheriff’s Office since 1981. He has served or supervised in Court Services, Narcotics, Patrol, Patrol Tactical Unit, Corrections, and Investigations.

Deputy Chief David Van Dyke is currently in charge of Security and Operations in the Will County Adult Detention Facility and manages the day to day operations of the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

Deputy Chief David Van Dyke is a graduate of Joliet Junior College with an Associates Degree in Science and an Associates Degree in Arts and Science. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelors Degree in Law Enforcement Administration and a double Minor in Security Administration and Corrections. He is also a graduate of Northwestern Police Staff and Command, Class # 83, as well as a Graduate of Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's' Executive Management Program # 25".