Director of Campus Safety & Security/Commander, Criminal Investigations Division Thomas E. Ferraro, The Frances Xavier Warde School ~ FerraroT@fxw.org ~ 847-361-3667
Thomas E. Ferraro was born and raised in Niles, Illinois, located on the north border of the City of Chicago in Cook County. Tom attended Notre Dame High School for Boys in Niles. He attended Loyola University of Chicago on a Navy ROTC – Marine Corps Option scholarship. When Tom learned that he no longer had the vision required to be a Marine Corps aviator, he chose to leave the NROTC program and pursue a career in law enforcement.
For the next 14 years, Mr. Ferraro worked as a 911 Operator/Police – Fire Dispatcher, in addition to being a part-time police officer for several towns. He started his career as a Police Dispatcher and Reserve Police Officer with the Niles Police Department.
After attending the police academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Tom was hired as a full-time police officer with the Park City Police Department in Lake County, Illinois, eventually being promoted to Detective. While working for Park City, Tom held a seasonal position as a Deputy Sheriff on the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, patrolling both the Chain O’ Lakes and Lake Michigan. Tom engaged in narcotics enforcement with both the Park City Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Police, earning commendations with both agencies.
Tom left the Park City Police Department to become an Investigator with the Illinois Secretary of State Police, the state’s oldest uniformed law enforcement agency. He was promoted to Investigator Sergeant after two years in the operations division, and spent the majority of his time with the SOS Police as supervisor of the Identity Crimes and Special Investigations Unit. Tom was a consulting member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
In 2017, Mr. Ferraro took early retirement from the Illinois Secretary of State Police to become the Director of Campus Safety and Security at The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW) in downtown Chicago. At FXW, Tom oversees an armed staff of 35 off-duty and retired law enforcement officers, as well as five civilian employees in a lively, urban environment.
Also in 2017, Tom took a position as a Detective with the Wonder Lake Police Department in McHenry County, Illinois. In 2019, Tom was promoted to Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. In November of 2022, Tom will assume command of the new Office of Professional Responsibility, which will encompass internal affairs, background investigations, use of force incidents, department policy and procedure, and other special investigations designated by the Chief of Police.
Mr. Ferraro is the Board President of the Niles Historical Society and Museum. In 2012, Tom authored the book, Niles: The Early Years (1832-1955) through Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America Series.
Tom is an alumnus member of Alpha Sigma Phi national fraternity, Delta Alpha Chapter and a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association.
Mr. Ferraro lives in Palatine, Illinois with his wife, Julieann, a 26-year police officer and real estate investor, and their 20-year-old daughter Samantha, an aspiring pastry chef and culinary student.