Mount Prospect’s first female commander takes oath

The Mount Prospect Police Department reached a milestone this week with the promotion of Sgt. Alison Teevan to the rank of commander, making her the force’s first female commander.

An 18-year veteran of the force, Teevan, who was sworn in during Tuesday’s village board meeting, has worked as a patrol officer, an investigator with the special intelligence unit, a detective and a youth officer. She was promoted to sergeant in 2021.

Her experience extends beyond Mount Prospect, having served with the FBI for two years as a part-time task force officer and with the Drug Enforcement Administration as a full-time task force officer for four years.

“Most police officers never have the ability to even work in one role in any type of task force, let alone two,” Police Chief Michael Eterno said.

She was officer of the year in 2015 and also earned the Cook County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Award of Merit in 2013 and the Cook County Crime Stoppers Excellence in Law Enforcement Award in 2024.

In addition, she is the director of the Major Case Assistance Team, a multijurisdictional force comprised of 26 agencies.

She also oversees the Mount Prospect Police Department's Women in Leadership Program, which was established to empower female team members by developing their leadership skills, fostering professional growth and creating supportive networks.

She will serve as one of the department's patrol commanders, filling the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Cmdr. Edward Szmergalski, who served the village for 33.5 years.

“What I've had the opportunity to do in my career has been beyond my expectations,” Teevan said.