Sean Welsh has been a Rockford police officer since 2005.

On January 27th, 2007, Welsh was partnered with fellow Rockford police officer Aaron Leismeister when Leismeister shot and killed Jasper Banks in the Target parking in East Rockford.

Prior to the shooting, Welsh ordered Jasper out of the vehicle and broke the windows of the car when it didn’t stop.

In 2019, Welsh, along with other Rockford police officers Eddie Torrance, and Timothy Campbell were named in a lawsuit by a Rockford Scanner reporter.

The reporter, William Lund, responded to the police scanner after reports of a high number of traffic stops in the Midtown area. Upon arrival Lund was able to figure out there was seemingly a police prostitution sting taking place. After Lund had photographed the scene, Rockford police officers Campbell and Welsh approached Lund telling him he needed to leave the area. Welsh was familiar with Lund knowing him to be a reporter for Rockford Scanner.

The two officers confirmed to Lund he was not breaking any laws but he still needed to leave the area. Lund left on his motorized bike with the cops following him for three blocks.

Lund travelled southbound on a one‐way‐street which ran northbound. After one more block of following Lund, the officers stopped and then arrested him for driving the wrong

way on a one‐way street, operating a vehicle without insurance, resisting or obstructing a police officer, felony aggravated driving on a revoked license, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid drivers’ license.

Torrance put together a list of all of the people who were arrested during the sting and gave it to his lieutenant. Rockford Police put the list out in a press release which became the source of news stories that listed Lund’s name as an arrestee during a prostitution sting.

A year later, Lund filed a motion for all charges to be dismissed and they were.

Lund sued the officers and the City of Rockford for false arrest, unreasonable search and seizure, failure to intervene, First Amendment retaliation, conspiracy, and malicious prosecution.

In 2019, Welsh made $87,597 in salary + $6,049 in overtime = $93,646 + $25,350 in health insurance + $30,497 in pension pay.

In 2020, they made $93,731 in salary + $8,384 in overtime = $102,115 + $25,350 in health insurance + $33,025 in pension pay.

In 2021, they made $104,693 in salary + $8,757 in overtime = $113,450 + $24,960 in health insurance + $34,932 in pension pay.

In 2022, they made $101,957 in salary + $18,188 in overtime = $120,145 + $25,350 in health insurance + $39,700 in pension pay.

In 2023, they made $108,962 in salary + $17,876 in overtime = $126,838 + $25,350 in health insurance + $46,059 in pension pay.

In 2024, they made $100,923 in salary + $11,210 in overtime = $112,133 + $26,325 in health insurance + $52,059 in pension pay.

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.