Randy Berke has been a Rockford police officer since 1995.

On December 21st, 2000, Berke worked with Jason Bailey on the tactical unit, a precursor to the SCOPE team, with officers in unmarked cars not wearing any uniforms.

Berke and Bailey spotted what they called a suspicious man. The two officers pulled up on Jonathan Allen. When they got out of their unmarked vehicle, they each had their guns in hand. Jonathan Allen began to run away from the police as they began to chase him with their guns out.

At some point, it's alleged that Jonathan pulled out a gun. It's at that point officers fired eight shots towards Jonathan.

One bullet hit Allen in the leg, causing him to fall. When he fell, Berke and Bailey ran up to him and beat him.

2014-L-0000052 - named in a personal injury lawsuit

In 2019, Berke a sergeant at the time, supervised over the Eric Thurmond, a RPD officer, rape case.

Berke was notified almost immediately after a woman had been pulled over by a Winnebago County sheriff deputy and claimed Thurmond forced her to do sexual acts.

Berke called in detective Janie Martin to District 2. There Berke briefed Martin and others before the woman was brought in by Officer James Grana.

Grana introduced the woman to Berke and Martin who brought her to an interview room.

She told the two cops that she met with some friends at Prairie Street Brewhouse around 7pm on May 23rd, 2019. Among this group was Eric Thurmond, his girlfriend, other couples, and a woman invited by Thurmond who we’ll refer to as Beth.

The group went out on a boat owned by one of the friends. After a dispute between the boat owner and their partner, the group was returned to Prairie Street with some dispersing, including Thurmond’s girlfriend at the time.

Meeting them at Prairie Street were some of Thurmond’s friends, off duty RPD officers. The new group went into the downstairs bar area. After Thurmond’s girlfriend left, Beth said he started talking to her more. This made her uncomfortable because he gave her no attention when his girlfriend was there.

Beth decided to leave when Thurmond offered to give her a ride to her car. The two left the bar and entered the parking lot where his 2016 Jeep Patriot was. Thurmond drove with Beth in the passenger seat.

He never asked her where she was parked. But, he began to drive out the lot. He drove a short distance before pulling over to the side of the road and turning the Jeep off.

Thurmond grabbed her and kissed her on the mouth.

He pulled her closer with one arm and with the other started unbuttoning and eventually removing her pants. Beth attempted to push away but Thurmond pulled her on top of him. His penis was already out. She pushed away causing her to honk the horn.

Thurmond pulled her back down and raped her.

This lasted until the Beth accidentally honked the horn again and was able to throw herself back into the passenger seat. Thurmond seemed irritated and told Beth he was not done. Beth pulled her pants back up, grabbed her keys and left looking for her car.

She got in and started driving before almost immediately getting pulled over.

After this interview, Martin reviewed video footage obtained by Berke from the Prairie Street then the dash camera footage from the Winnebago County Sheriff Deputy. She reached out Thurmond and others that were on the boat to come in separately for interviews.

Throughout the case Berke received regular updates and assigned officers tasks related to the case.

Thurmond eventually pled guilty to disorderly conduct where he admitted to driving her to an unknown location which caused her to be afraid. Part of plea was he could not be police officer in Illinois.

On May 30th, 2020, Berke witnessed Eddie Torrance taking down a nonviolent protester. Berke quickly came to the scene and used his baton on a protester.

Berke, as an ADC, oversaw several protests at City Market and the Occupation at City Hall.

In 2021, when Berke became the interim police chief, Spencer Berke led 4 a.m. raids of the Occupation where Rockford police officers gave ordinance violations to the occupiers and stole blankets, handwarmers, books, sleeping bags and other items to keep warm.

On multiple occasions during these raids RPD officers then tore down the memorials in Say Their Name Square referring to them as trash.

In 2019, Berke made $116,495 in salary + $17,568 in overtime = $134,063 + $25,350 in health insurance + $30,497 pension pay.

In 2020, they made $119,960 in salary + $24,960 in health insurance + $33,025 in pension pay.

In 2021, they made $135,041 in salary + $24,960 in health insurance + $34,932 in pension pay

In 2022, they made $136,935 in salary + $24,960 in health insurance + $39,700 in pension pay.

In 2023, they made $139,200 in salary + $24,960 in health insurance + $46,059 in pension pay.

In 2024, they made $190,335 in salary.

If you or anyone you know has been abused, harassed, or otherwise mistreated by this officer please email us with the officers name in the subject.