Although Ranney believes the work of the police department is an integral part of what makes Pekin a great place to live and work and raise a family, he is uncomfortable being called a hero.

“I think of myself as a servant of the citizens of Pekin,” he said. “I am here to serve. The officers on the streets are the real heroes. They do heroic stuff every day.”

Heroic or not, Ranney’s law enforcement career illustrates his commitment to service. After graduating from Pekin High School in 1995 he earned a criminal justice degree from Illinois State University. Right out of college, his hometown police department took him on as a patrol officer.

Within a couple of years, he was part of Operation Rattlesnake, a Drug Enforcement Agency task force battling a local methamphetamine problem. He said that in the early 2000s, it was considered one of the most successful task forces in the central district of Illinois.

Next, he headed south and took a position in Nashville, TN, in a specialty street crime unit. For two years, he worked undercover in Nashville’s narcotics unit. But after four years away he returned to Pekin where family and friends provided support for himself, his wife and young family.

Returning to the Pekin Police Department in 2010, he moved up the ranks and was eventually appointed Deputy Chief of Police. In 2023, the Pekin City Manager appointed him Chief of Police.

“Like most police departments, we are all about building relationships with citizens, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations in our community,” Raney said. “We’re not so big that we can’t still know the people we serve.”

He said challenges facing the police force include curbing the flow of illegal drugs through the city, and addressing homelessness. To that end, the city council recently approved the department hiring a social worker to help unhoused people access services to overcome their housing crisis.

“I remind our officers all the time that the average citizen might have just one contact with the police department over a 10-year period. Whether the experience is positive or negative is up to the officer.”

The Pekin police force currently consists of 57 uniformed officers, and a dozen or so additional support staff. Ranney said his department has a great relationship with the Tazewell County Sherriff, and both forces and citizens benefit from their proximity to each other in downtown Pekin.

“It often speeds up processing and makes everything more efficient,” Ranney said.

“I believe we have the support of the vast majority of our citizens,” he said. “These are good, hardworking people focused on raising their families.”

When asked about living in Pekin he praises the schools, a strong business community, many faith-based communities and “one of the best park districts in the state.”

The police chief and his wife of 23 years, Missy, have two children, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. When he is not managing the police force, Ranney enjoys outdoor activities such as mountain biking, fishing, and hiking. He is an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin and sits on the advisory board of the Pekin Salvation Army. He is also interested in aviation and is pursuing a pilot’s license.

What is ahead for Ranney? “I hope to continue to be more efficient and effective, to grow my leadership skills and continue to build relationships.”