John Bouthillette
Chief John Bouthillette is a distinguished law enforcement professional with a comprehensive 38-year career characterized by exceptional leadership, extensive training expertise, and a profound commitment to officer safety and community engagement. Throughout his distinguished career, he has developed productive partnerships across local, state, and federal agencies while establishing himself as a respected subject matter expert in critical areas of law enforcement.
As a Field Services Manager at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research's Center for Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness, Chief Bouthillette oversees multiple critical training and technical assistance programs for the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. His current portfolio includes:
- VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Training
- National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officer (SAFLEO) Training Program
- VALOR Safer Together Training Program
- Correctional Officer and Staff Safety and Wellness Training Program
- National Law Enforcement Officer Roadway Safety Program
Over the past 13 years, Chief Bouthillette has delivered and developed training for over 70,000 law enforcement officers across all 50 states. His professional experiences extend beyond traditional law enforcement roles, including significant work as:
- Law Enforcement Accreditation Assessor for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police
- Homeland Security Exercise Planner for Vermont's Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- Program Chief for Vermont's Division of Licensing and Protection, Adult Protective Services Unit
Chief Bouthillette has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Purple Heart Award from the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officer Association, the Valor Awards from the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association, the Valor Awards from the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, as well as special recognition certificates from the New Jersey Senate, General Assembly, and United States Congress.
In 2000, Chief Bouthillette survived a critical incident involving a deadly force encounter, being shot twice at close range during a possible shot-fired call. This experience has profoundly informed his subsequent work and lectures on officer safety and survival, both nationally and internationally. He has been a featured speaker for multiple prestigious organizations, including:
- Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN)
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- FBI National Academy Association
Bouthillette earned a master’s degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University; a Mini-Master's Certificate in Public Administration from Rutgers University; a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Thomas Edison State Colleg. Bouthillette is a graduate, 236th Session of the FBI National Academy; he completed the National Instructor Certification, IADLEST National Certification Program. Chief Bouthillette exemplifies exceptional leadership, continuous professional development, and an unwavering commitment to law enforcement safety and community service.