ECHOLS TO TEACH, CREATE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER AT SCC

ANNA -- Carbondale's loss is Shawnee Community College's gain.

Renowned crime scene investigator Paul Echols, a lieutenant with the Carbondale Police Department, announced today that he is retiring from the force to become a criminal justice instructor and creator of a Forensic Science Center at Shawnee Community College.

Echols has been with the Carbondale PD for 28 years, and is nationally recognized for his use of forensic technologies to solve decades-old murder cases. His success is being featured on the A&E television network Cold Cases program and there are a number of published works about his achievements.

Echols follows the retired Ron Ferguson as the college's criminal justice instructor.

"Ron Ferguson has been an outstanding instructor at the college and when we learned he was retiring, we immediately became concerned about filling his shoes," said Dr. Larry Peterson, president of Shawnee Community College. "We never dreamed we would land someone with the reputation, respect, and ability that Lt. Echols brings. We are obviously elated by today's announcement. This is a tremendous hire for the college."

Peterson explained during a press conference in Anna today that Echols will develop curriculum for a newly created Forensic Science Center where law enforcement officers locally and across the nation can gain experience as crime scene investigators.

"This center will not only be developed as part of the classroom training necessary for an associate's degree in criminal justice, but also for continuing education for all law enforcement officers," Peterson said.

Two of Echols' most notable cases include solving the 25-year-old rape/murder case of former Southern Illinois University Carbondale student Susan Schumake, and connecting Timothy Krajcir to the murders of nine women more than 25 years ago.

Paul and his wife, Sheila, are both graduates of Shawnee Community College. Paul is quick to point out how important his education at the college was to his life.

"It was the foundation on which my career was built," he said.

Echols is a 1977 graduate of Century High School. After graduating from Shawnee Community College in 1979, he graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement. He has also earned a master's of public administration degree and graduated from the FBI National Academy, 188th session.