Alum Returns to ECC as a Police Officer

Miguel Martinez has worked as a police officer at Elgin Community College for a little over a year, and more than 20 years after graduating from ECC in 2002.

“It was a stepping stone for me, and I did not know what I wanted to do with my life until I started attending ECC and met an Elgin Officer who was a part-time instructor and was able to see myself in that police officer role,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to be able to come back to where it all began.”

He started attending ECC in 1994 after graduating from Larkin High School. As a first-generation college student, he found direction and inspiration through ECC’s Criminal Justice Program. Among those who influenced him were Richard Martin, the program director at the time and an Indiana State Trooper, and Jane Barbosa, who founded ECC's Organization of Latin American Students. 

Martinez also recalls learning from instructors whose professional backgrounds included corrections, counseling, and law enforcement.

“They had a lot of experience in their fields, and it was good to have that because if you had any questions about what the job was like, they brought a realism to the class,” he said.

While attending ECC, he worked in security at Fermilab, a national laboratory based in Batavia. He later worked in court security at the Kane County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Elgin Police Department as a community service officer. 

After pursuing opportunities to become a sworn police officer, Martinez joined the Mount Prospect Police Department in 2004, where he served for 21 years. 

Although his career took him to Mount Prospect, Martinez continued to live in his hometown of Elgin. When he retired from the department in 2025, returning to ECC offered an opportunity to serve the community that had shaped his life. 

“I am a lifelong resident of Elgin and have deep roots here going back to the ‘70s when my parents first arrived,” Martinez said. “I loved serving the Mount Prospect community, but Elgin was ultimately my home, having been raised here and attending the local schools.”

Today, Martinez is one of 13 police officers at ECC. He works alongside a former state trooper and officers from Streamwood, Schaumburg, and Hoffman Estates.

“Everybody brings their experience at other agencies here to the college, and there’s a wealth of knowledge and experience,” he said. “That's a good thing, especially in a learning environment. We all realize that these are post-high-school kids, and they’re still trying to navigate their way through life.”

For Martinez, the role offers a change of pace from his previous position, where calls ranged from parking complaints to serious traffic crashes. It also provides opportunities to connect with students and help them feel comfortable approaching campus police. 

Martinez has spoken with students in ECC’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program about campus police services, traffic laws, and parking regulations. Beyond sharing practical information, he hopes to help students understand that ECC officers are approachable and available to support the campus community.  

Having once been a student uncertain about his own career path, Martinez encourages current students to keep an open mind when determining their path and to have a backup plan.  

“Sometimes things don’t work out, so always have a plan B,” he said. “Whether you’re interested in criminal justice, your plan B might be being a supervisor at Best Buy. It's always a good idea to plan accordingly.”