Meet Your NeighborThe Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Meet Your Neighborby Susan Galbraith, Quill Reporter
Meet Your Neighbor Brendan Schaley of Stronghurst.
For the past 8 years Brendan has been employed by the Illinois State Police, in District #14, as an Illinois State Trooper. He was previously employed for 4 years at the Henderson County Sheriff's Office as a DARE instructor.
He was born in Burlington, Iowa, and raised in Stronghurst.
In 1990 Brendan graduated from Southern High School and continued his education at Western Illinois University, in Macomb, graduating in 1994 in Law Enforcement Administration.
He completed graduate work at the Police Training Institute in Springfield in 1998, and in 2002 graduated from the State Police Academy.
His parents are Ron and Jennifer Schaley of Stronghurst. Ron is employed in the family business at Stronghurst Auto Body and Jennifer is employed at Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab.
Brendan is the proud father of two girls, Jenna, (14) and Megan (7), students in the West Central School district.
Brendan has three sisters, Krista (Jeff) Forbes of rural Smithshire, Dee Ann (Aaron) Tate of rural Lomax, and Jana (Jake) Nelson of Flower Mound, Texas.
Brendan is engaged to Emily Mowen. Emily has a son Jacob (5).
He is a member of the Stronghurst Christian Church.
For three years he was a K-9 handler and for six years a firearms instructor and also taught Control and Arrest Tactics at the Academy in Springfield.
In his spare time, he enjoys attending Jenna and Megan's sporting events.
When asked what he enjoyed most about being an Illinois State Trooper his reply was, "I enjoy serving the public and keeping our highways as safe as possible."