Bruce N. Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer for Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, a
nationally recognized leader in the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment, and the
promotion of healthy lifestyles. Mr. Johnson retired from Law Enforcement after more than
20 years of service, the past ten of which were as the Chief of Police for the Round Lake
Park Police Department. He was previously employed by the Schaumburg Police Department
and the Morton Grove Police Department where he served in many capacities and
assignments.
His academic credentials include a Master of Science Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Certificate in Non-Profit
Management and Allstate Foundation Greater Good Nonprofit Leadership Program.
Additionally, he has completed an extensive number of courses and seminars conducted by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety,
Pennsylvania State University, Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville, Illinois
Emergency Management Agency, Josephson Institute of Ethics, Norfolk Constabulary and
New Scotland Yard, England, Garda Siochana College, Templemore, Ireland and many
others.
He has instructed for Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the
Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and the University of Illinois Center for
Public Safety and Justice teaching Procedural Justice and Community Policing throughout
the United States as well as an Adjunct Faculty Professor at William Rainey Harper College
teaching courses in Leadership and Ethics for Law Enforcement, Community Policing,
Forensics and Investigations and he is a Subject Matter Expert for CNA Strategic Policing
Innovations and Justice Reinvestment Initiatives.
Mr. Johnson is a Co-Founder of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Past Chair of the Lake
County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force, serves on the Lake County
Criminal Justice Community Council, Illinois Substance Use Disorder Advisory Council, and
William Rainey Harper College and College of Lake County Human Services Advisory
Committees. He initiated the Shop With A Cop Program in Lake County and is a life-
member of the International and Illinois Associations of Chiefs of Police, served on the
Executive Board of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a Past-President of the
Lake County Chiefs of Police Association. Mr. Johnson is Vice Chairman of the Lake
County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, and he is the founder of the very successful
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center where he also served as Board President.
Mr. Johnson retired as a Chief Warrant Officer after more than 28 years of service in the
United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. Meritoriously promoted after boot
camp while serving as a squad leader he reported to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center located in Twentynine Palms, California.
After completing MOS training courses he reported to Marine Air Control Group-48, Marine
Wing Communications Squadron-48 and spent one half of his Marine Corps career enlisted,
promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant E-7 serving in many capacities and assignments to
include Acting First Sergeant, Technical Control Chief, and Systems Control Chief. He was
selected for both Master Sergeant E-8 and Warrant Officer WO-1 simultaneously. After
completing the Warrant Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia he was commissioned as
a CWO2 (Chief Warrant Officer) in 1998. He was subsequently promoted to CWO3 and
served as a Platoon Commander with Marine Air Control Group-48, Marine Wing
Communications Squadron-48 and also as the Mobilization Training Unit Officer in Charge
for the 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District, Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps
Recruiting Command before deploying to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011 with the 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force for 2 tours. He served as a Rule of Law Advisor to the National
Directorate of Security, the national intelligence and security service of Afghanistan, and was
the single point of contact for all provincial insurgent detention operations as well as
investigations into allegations of detainee mishandling and abuse. CWO3 Johnson worked
with British and Afghan justice system partners to develop lessons learned on Afghan
evidentiary procedures leading to more successful investigations and the recovery and
transfer of weapons, narcotics, explosives, and IED items resulting in the prosecutions, and
convictions of many insurgents responsible for the attempted or actual killing and wounding
of U.S. forces. Many investigations also included coordination with the Counter Narcotics
Police of Afghanistan and the seizure and destruction of mass quantities of opium, heroin,
and hash. He also tracked prisoners to ensure they were not released prematurely back to the
battlefield, a common practice. Additionally, he assembled and led a joint ISAF/Afghan
investigation surrounding an insurgent’s attempted escape from a detention facility located in
a highly kinetic and tense district which resulted in the deaths of a British Police Mentor, 2
Marines, and 3 Afghans. Responsible parties were imprisoned and as a result, U.S. and
Afghan trust was restored. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Marine Corps
Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Armed
Forces Reserve Medal, Navy Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sea Service
Deployment Ribbon, as well as numerous Certificates of Commendation, and Letters of
Appreciation.