Meet our Staff

Dennis Nolan

Chief of Public Safety

Chief Nolan started with the Oakton Police Department in 1996. He holds a B.A. Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was previously a Chicago Police Officer for 9 years, and a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Lieutenant and Watch Commander for almost 15 years. As Chief he has been instrumental in making many changes and upgrades to enhance security here at Oakton.

Joan Nebel

Sergeant of Public Safety

Sergeant Nebel comes to Oakton with 20 years of law enforcement experience. She is a certified elderly service officer, licensed breathalyzer operator, and a gang crime officer. Sergeant Nebel holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Lewis University, and a M.S. degree in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University. 

Charlene Kadlec

Public Safety Assistant

Ms. Kadlec has been employed at Oakton Community College since 1980, when the college was located in Morton Grove, Illinois. She has been the Administrative Assistant in Public Safety since February 2004. Her duties include maintaining police records, supervisor of the police cadets, and telecommunicator. She previously worked with the MLT/PBT program and in the Division Three office.

Ken Griffin

Public Safety Officer

Officer Griffin was with the McLean County, Illinois Sheriff's Department for 4 years. He was also with the Champaign, Illinois Police Department for 24 years. Officer Griffin has been a Police Officer at Oakton since October 1995. He was also the past President of the International and Illinois Juvenile Officers Association.

Joe Schmidt

Public Safety Officer

Officer Schmidt was employed as a Special Agent with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Police Department/Chicago Office for 31 years. He has been a Police Officer at Oakton since November 1998.

Dan Dominiak

Public Safety Officer

Officer Dominiak has over twenty years of law enforcement experience. He holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Morton College, and is currently pursing his Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University. He started his career with the Village of Summit Illinois and is still employed as a Police Officer there. Officer Dominiak is a certified firearm instructor, baton instructor and pepper spray instructor. He has been employed with Oakton since July 2006.

Jason Stanford

Public Safety Officer

Officer Stanford graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. Degree in Political Science, and is currently pursing a M.A. Degree in Political and Justice Studies from Governors State University. He has been a Police Officer at Oakton since January of 2007. Officer Stanford is excited to work with the faculty, staff and students of Oakton.

Gerald Modory

Public Safety Officer

Officer Modory retired from the Oak Park Police Department in 2004 after 30 years. He holds a B.A. Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Administration of Criminal Justice. Officer Modory has had a decade of experience successfully applying the "Community Oriented Policing" model to daily police work. He comes to Oakton since January 2007 as an experienced officer and supervisor with a wealth of police knowledge.

Ryan Kendricks

Public Safety Officer

Officer Kendricks graduated from ITT Technical Institute with an Associate Degree in Computer Engineering and Electronic Engineering. He has been a Police Officer at Oakton since October 2006.

Paul Messina

Publc Safety Officer

Officer Messina is a retired police officer from the Western Springs Police Department. As an officer he served in the Patrol Division and Investigation Unit. He was also a Juvenile Officer and School Resource Officer. Officer Messina holds a B.A.Degree from Lewis University in Criminal Justice. He has been a Police Officer at Oakton since October of 2007.

Jin "Bobbie" Kang

Public Safety Officer

Officer Kang recently completed an A.A. Degree from Oakton. He has served previously in the Public Safety Department as a Cadet. Officer Kang joined the Department as an officer in February of 2008. He looks forward to a career in law enforcement. 

Timothy Podlin

Public Safety Officer

Officer Podlin comes to Oakton with 25 years of law enforcement experience. He was an investigative specialist, crime analyst, records management systems administrator, and supervisor. He holds an AAS in Law Enforcement from Oakton. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He joined Public Safety in August of 2011.