Thursday, 6/19/2025 - Village President Daniel Gunsteen with the board of trustees appointed Ryan Conway chief of police for the Village of Bartlett at the June 17 meeting. Chief Conway was officially sworn in to head the department on July 1. He fills the vacancy left by Geoffrey Pretkelis’ retirement.
Conway comes to Bartlett from the City of Wheaton where he most recently served as the deputy chief of operations. He started with the Wheaton Police Department in 2004 and served as a patrol division sergeant from 2014 to 2018 and as an operations division lieutenant from 2018 to 2020. He was then promoted to support division lieutenant in 2020 and to deputy chief in 2022.
Conway’s new position with the Village of Bartlett brings him full circle in his law enforcement journey. In 2004, before he began his tenure in Wheaton, Conway was an intern with the Bartlett Police Department.
"That early experience left a lasting impression on me and played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of my career. The opportunity to now serve as chief of police in a community that helped launch my path is both meaningful and deeply personal,” said Conway.
He further explained his decision to accept this offer, “I was drawn to Bartlett because of its strong sense of community, dedication to public safety, and the shared values reflected in the Bartlett Way. I look forward to leading a team of committed professionals as we work together to build trust, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives, works and visits Bartlett."
Bartlett’s new police chief holds a B.S. in law enforcement/justice administration from Western Illinois University and an M.S. in criminal/social justice from Lewis University. In 2024, Conway earned certification in criminal justice education from the University of Virginia and graduated from the 289th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Noting the importance of this appointment, Village President Gunsteen described the rigorous selection process, “I wanted to ensure we got it right. We reviewed more than 27 applicants and interviewed eight final candidates. After our conversations with Ryan, I felt confident we had found the right leader for the future of our police department. Chief Conway’s dedication to community focused policing and excellence in law enforcement makes him a tremendous asset for Bartlett.”
