Stefan Bjes

Stefan Bjes M.S. is currently the Director of Safety and Security for Plainfield School District 202 and a Team Adam Consultant with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Stefan is a retired patrol sergeant and served with the Addison, Il Police Department for more than two decades. Stefan has a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University in Psychology and Sociology and a master’s degree from Lewis University. Stefan was named the 2019 Juvenile Officer of the Year by the Illinois Juvenile Officer Association for his work with children with disabilities.  

In 2021, Stefan was awarded the Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award by the United States Department of Justice for establishing programs to assist with the prevention and search for missing children with disabilities. Stefan is an instructor for Northeast Multi Regional Training (NEMRT), Tri-River Police Training Region and is also an approved instructor regarding Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities for the Basic CIT Course with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.  Stefan has written articles for the International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (ILEETA) Journal, Campus Safety Magazine and Calibre Press regarding Law Enforcement interactions with individuals with Autism. He is also the owner of Blue Line Spectrum Safety LLC, which specializes in First Responder training regarding Autism and Developmental Disabilities.  

As a father of two sons with Autism, Stefan has extensive experience, through his personal and professional life, in interacting with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.