Commissioner William Burke

Chief Director of Emergency Management, Shiloh County Emergency Response Team. 

DOB: 1972-12-09
 

Commissioner Burke completed his BBA at Crescent Falls University in 1983. During his time at CFU, he was one of the few students to join the CFU First Aid Squad with no desires for medical school. His only desire was to respond. After leaving the University, Will joined the Shiloh County Volunteer Ambulance. During this time he completed his EMT certification, spending evenings and weekends on the rig whenever he wasn't at work for a small consulting firm. After two years, the application was made to Shiloh County Sheriff's Department to join their recruit deputy program. Later that year, Will was commissioned as a deputy in the SCSD. 

While in the SCSD, Will took night courses to certify as a paramedic, and later completed an Emergency Management program. His goal was to join the new forensics program in the department, leading a team of medical specialists, however when he received his promotion to sergeant, it was to work as the Sheriff's Emergency Management liaison, planning for the SCSD's involvement in the newly formed ERT. During this time, he worked with the Sheriff, as well as ERT staff to help organize the SCSD into the premier organized law enforcement agency that it is. 

In 1994, the ERT reorganized, no longer having one emergency management liaison for each department, but instead having one liaison for each service, who would work with all the departments in their area. Will applied and was accepted into the ERT as a lieutenant, responsible for police liaison services. Two years later, he was promoted to the director of emergency preparedness. With the new office hours, he was able to reorganize his schedule and began teaching at the public safety academy. He taught paramedic services, police medical operations, and emergency management. 

As the county continued growing, and their needs changed, emergency preparedness evolved, and so did the role. Director Burke oversaw the development of the first operations center, as well as the  merger of all the emergency call centers into the SC ERT's operational control. In 2005, as the agency continued to develop in the wake of 9/11 and the advent of FEMA, Will was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and continued with his portfolio for emergency preparedness, while also assuming the portfolio of the newly created director of communications. In 2007, Henry Goodricht was assigned the communications portfolio, in the structure as it is today. 

In 2008, William Burke was promoted to the Commissioner of the Shiloh County ERT and Chief Director of Emergency Management, by recommendation of Commissioner Johnson, supported unanimously by the County Board. Right now, the SCERT employs 84 full time employees, with an additional 42 seasonal full time and part time employees. 

During the time that Commissioner Burke has served, the ERT has officially formed a training partnership with the public safety academy. 

Commissioner Burke is married to Elizabeth Burke, with two children, aged 19 and 15, Maria and Noah.