True Crime Story, Detective J. Rafael Tovar

Detective J. Rafael Tovar, retired investigator for the Des Plaines (Illinois) Police Department, caught and arrested John Wayne Gacy for the murders of 33 young men from the Chicago area. He will discuss Gacy’s childhood, young adulthood and psychological assessment, his adult life when the killing spree began, evidence recovered at the scenes and the culmination of the investigation resulting in Gacy’s arrest, prosecution and execution. The social impact of the victims, community, and the justice system at large will also be discussed.

J. Rafael Tovar is a 39-year veteran of law enforcement who retired as a detective with the Des Plaines Police Department. He is also President of A. Rafael Tovar Consultants and Investigations. As a career law enforcement professional, Rafael worked patrol for several years before being promoted to detective where he specialized in narcotics enforcement for more than 20 years, working undercover narcotic operations and supervising a narcotics team. Rafael’s prestigious career in narcotic interdiction resulted in numerous awards including two International Narcotics Officers Association Awards, four MEG Directors Awards, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Law Enforcement Excellence Award, ATF Excellence Award and two letters of recognition from the U.S. Attorney General’s Office. His narcotics investigations extend beyond the Chicago area, and he has testified in federal courts in New York, Florida, Oregon and Illinois.