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WASHINGTON (April 15, 2005)-- Teresa M. Kettelkamp, who served as an official with the Illinois State Police for 29 years, has been named executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Office of Child and Youth Protection.
Ms. Kettelkamp succeeds Kathleen L. McChesney, who directed the office from its founding in December, 2002, until February, 2005.
Ms. Kettelkamp's appointment, effective April 13, was announced by the USCCB General Secretary, Msgr. William P. Fay.
"Teresa Kettelkamp brings an extraordinary wealth of experience and complete commitment to the protection of children and young people," Msgr. Fay said. "I look forward to the contributions she will make in further strengthening this crucially important work for the Church in our country."
"I am grateful to the National Review Board for their assistance, as well as that of senior staff, in helping me in the search for such a competent director," Msgr. Fay said.
"I am honored to be selected to serve the USCCB and the OCYP in this capacity," Ms. Kettelkamp said. "I'll work tirelessly to continue to give victims a voice, to encourage them to come forward for healing, and to strengthen the protection mechanisms for children which were implemented by the Charter."
Ms. Kettelkamp was the first woman to attain the rank of Colonel in the Illinois State Police when she retired in July, 2003, to assist the Gavin Group, Inc., in conducting audits of all Catholic dioceses and eparchies for compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. She was a member of teams that visited 16 dioceses and eparchies during the 2003 and 2004 audits. She also assisted the Gavin Group in the development of the first audit instrument and a draft audit manual.
Teresa Kettelkamp's nearly three decades of law enforcement experience began with investigating while collar crime and public corruption cases. She carried out investigations throughout the State of Illinois and served in a variety of leadership positions in multiple divisions of the Illinois State Police.
Responsible for the Illinois State Police's Division of Forensic Services, she managed the 2nd largest forensic system in the nation and the 3rd largest in the world. The division provides forensic laboratory services to local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies. Comprised of nine forensic laboratories, its budget is approximately $12 million, with a statewide work force of nearly 600 employees.
Prior to heading the Division of Forensic Services, Ms. Kettelkamp was in charge of the Illinois State Police's Division of Internal Investigation which investigates allegations of misconduct within the agency and the executive branch of government.
She was also responsible for the functional supervision of 28 specially trained I-SEARCH (Illinois Statewide Efforts in the Apprehension and Recovery of Children) agents who conducted statewide I-SEARCH investigations involving missing and/or sexually exploited children.
In addition, she oversaw the bureaus of Personnel, Informational Services, Research and Development, and Logistics.
The Office for Child and Youth Protection was established by the Bishops of the United States at their meeting in Dallas in June, 2002, when they adopted the Charter. In the Charter, the bishops pledged "that we will work to our utmost for the protection of children and youth" and to "work toward healing and reconciliation for those sexually abused by clerics."
According to the Charter, the tasks of the office are to assist individual dioceses/eparchies in the implementation of safe environment programs, assist provinces and regions in the development of appropriate mechanisms to audit adherence to policies, and the production of an annual public report on the progress made in implementing the standards in the Charter.
Ms. Kettelkamp received the Illinois State Police Achievement Medal on four separate occasions. She was also the recipient of the Illinois State Police Meritorious Service Award in 1995, the Illinois State Police Departmental Commendation in 1997 and 1980, and the YWCA Women of Excellence Award in 2001.
She was honored with the "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" Award of the National Center for Women in Policing.
She is Past President, State Chapter, FBI National Academy Associates, and Advisory Board Member of the National Center for Women in Policing
Teresa Kettelkamp graduated from Quincy College, Quincy, Illinois, where she obtained a degree in Political Science in 1974.
She resides in Springfield, Illinois, where she is a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish. She is the parent of two children in college.
NOTE: Ms. Kettelkamp will be available for a limited number of brief telephone interviews between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15. To make arrangements, contact Sherri Watkins, (202) 541-3409.