John Gillis is a distinguished advocate for victims' rights, driven by personal tragedy after the murder of his daughter in 1979. With over two decades of service in the Los Angeles Police Department and a notable seven-year tenure as the National Director of the Office for Victims of Crime under the U.S. Department of Justice, Gillis has made significant contributions to the field. He has been honored with the National Crime Victims Service Award by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and a Special Commendation Award from former U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr. Additionally, he was inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Chief of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Victim Services Division.

 

Gillis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University at Los Angeles and a Master of Science in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

 

Gillis has also served as a Commissioner and Chairman on the California Board of Prison Terms, a member of the California State Bar Association’s Crime Victims and Corrections Committee, and a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Victim Committee. His efforts were instrumental in securing the passage

of California’s Crime Victims Initiative, Proposition 115.