Batavia promotes Eric Blowers to police deputy chief

BATAVIA – Eric Blowers has always found police work to be rewarding. From a young age, he had decided that he wanted to be a cop.

“Almost my entire adolescence I knew this was my career path,” Blowers said. “I like to work with people and find creative solutions to help them.”

Blowers, 38, joined the Batavia Police Department as a patrol officer in 2007 and only two years later was honored with the Robert Popeck Achievement Award as the officer of the year for 2009.

The young officer moved steadily through the ranks.

He soon became a patrol officer-in-charge, then a detective, followed by promotion to sergeant, then detective sergeant and most recently the department’s watch commander of investigations.

Now, Blowers is embracing the biggest challenge of his career yet, as the department’s newly promoted deputy chief of administration.

It’s a major role, with a wide range of responsibilities.

The deputy chief supervises the investigations unit, oversees the records division and handles equipment purchases as well as managing the department’s fleet of vehicles.

Planning for the security of special events such as the Fourth of July fireworks show and the Windmill City Festival are also part of the new deputy chief’s job.

“Anything that involves logistics,” Blowers said.

Blowers’ police work has gained notice from other law enforcement agencies. He serves on the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, where he and officers from other area departments investigate officer-involved deaths.

Most notably, Blowers participated in the investigation into the 2019 mass shooting incident at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora.

In addition, Blowers was recognized by the FBI for “outstanding assistance and leadership” for his work that same year on an investigation concerning a Batavia High School student who ultimately pled guilty to possession of explosives.

As deputy chief, Blowers replaces long-time Batavia police veteran Glenn Autenrieth, who has retired.

There are 41 sworn police officers serving in the Batavia department, led by Chief Dan Eul and supported by Blowers and Deputy Chief of Operations Shawn Mazza.

Blowers and Mazza clearly work well together.

“I’ve been leaning on him for guidance,” Blowers said of his fellow deputy chief.

Police work is changing, Blowers said, as the department adapts to new expectations in society and the public’s perception of how officers perform their duties.

Since May of this year, body-worn cameras are now standard equipment for every Batavia police officer.

“The cameras increase comfort and trust with the public,” Blowers said. “Our officers find value and benefit in them.”

Asked whether there is a noticeable trend in the type of incidents to which police are responding, Blowers doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“People who are in a mental health crisis,” Blowers said.

The department has responded using a partnership with the Association for Individual Development, a social service agency, to provide assistance, Blowers said.

A social service professional from the agency works from the department’s headquarters once a week, Blowers said, allowing police to set up counseling for people who need help.

“It’s a really good partnership we have with AID,” Blowers said.

The vast majority of the Batavia department’s officers have been through formal crisis intervention training, Blowers added.

Blowers grew up in Wheaton and graduated from Wheaton-Warrenville South High School. He earned a degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University and attended Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command in 2017.