BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADMINISTRATION

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 Executive Director (Non-Board) 

Larry Mason serves as one of the Executive Directors of Suwannee Valley Unsolved, Inc., bringing more than 46 years of experience in law enforcement, criminal investigations, private investigation, and security services.

Mason retired from the Illinois State Police as a Master Sergeant–Special Agent. During his tenure, he also served as Deputy Director of the Lake County, Illinois Metropolitan Enforcement Group, a multi-jurisdictional state narcotics task force responsible for coordinating complex drug investigations across multiple agencies.

Following his state police career, Mason continued his leadership in law enforcement as Chief of Police for three municipal police departments: Marengo, Wonder Lake, and Holiday Hills, Illinois. His career also includes service with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Lieutenant and Federal Criminal Investigator. In addition, he served as a Municipal Detective-Patrol Sergeant, Chief of Investigations, Grand Jury Investigator, and Evidence Vault Custodian for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Mason has extensive experience in law enforcement education and training. He served as an adjunct criminal justice and police training instructor and Criminal Justice Department Chair at McHenry County College, as well as an adjunct criminal justice instructor at the College of Lake County. He has also instructed for the Illinois State Police Training Academy, Northeast Multi-Regional Training (NEMRTS), and numerous other law enforcement training programs.

He received his basic law enforcement training as an Illinois State Police Trooper at the Illinois State Police Training Academy and later graduated from the Northwestern University Police Staff and Command School. Mason also completed federal investigator training through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Training Academy. His specialized training includes certification as a firearms instructor for both law enforcement and civilian concealed carry training, as well as certification as a Taser instructor.

Mason holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. Throughout his career as a police supervisor and chief, he conducted numerous internal affairs investigations and oversaw critical investigative operations.

In the private sector, Mason has also served as an armed security officer, providing protection for ComEd facilities, Chicago-area Metra rail operations, and executive security for a national television network.

He has accumulated thousands of hours of advanced law enforcement and executive-level training throughout his career.

Mason joined the Suwannee Valley Unsolved Board of Directors in January 2024, where he now serves as Executive Director, helping lead the organization’s mission to support families affected by unsolved homicides and missing persons cases.