NILEA Academy Staff

Director Markle served13 years with the Schererville (IN) Police Department before joining the staff of NILEA in 2008. While at Schererville PD, he worked as a supervisor in the patrol division, criminal investigator, SWAT operator and served as the department’s physical tactics coordinator. Prior to entering law enforcement, Director Markle served four years of active duty military service in the United States Navy deploying for Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Provide Promise/ Deny Flight and several counter narcotics operations. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1994.

A graduate of the 122nd basic session of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Director Markle holds several instructor certifications in the area of Physical Tactics and Use of Force and holds the rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is also an LETB Certified Firearms Instructor, S.T.O.P.S. Instructor and Response to Active Shooters Instructor.

Director Markle holds a B.S. in Public Safety Management from Calumet College of Saint Joseph and is an Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board Certified Master Instructor. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership Academy and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.  In 2022, Governor Holcomb appointed him to serve on the Law Enforcement Training Board of the State of Indiana.

Captain Taylor is a graduate of the 31st Basic Training Class of the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and served 10 years with the Hobart Police Department before joining the NILEA staff in 2022. Captain Taylor is a Certified Law Enforcement Training Board Instructor holding psychomotor skills endorsements in Emergency Vehicle Operations, Firearms and Physical Tactics. While at the Hobart PD, he worked as a Patrol Supervisor, K-9 handler, Field training officer, TASER instructor, STOPS instructor, Criminal Interdiction instructor, and TI-VIRTRA active shooter/de-escalation simulator instructor. Prior to entering Law Enforcement, he served 4 years active duty in the United States Air Force. After being honorably discharged in 1992, Captain Taylor served 20 years at the Hobart Fire Department which included several training and supervisory roles leading to his final appointment where he finished as Fire Chief.

Brian Gensel spent the majority of his legal career as a Porter County Prosecutor, beginning as a juvenile court deputy prosecutor in 1988 and advancing through all levels of the office. In 1994 he was chosen to serve as Chief Deputy Prosecutor for the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office. Brian was elected as the Prosecuting Attorney for the 67th Judicial Circuit Court in 2006 and held that position until 2018. During that time he was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Valparaiso University teaching Trial Advocacy, and supervised the Porter County Narcotics Unit. Brian graduated from Purdue University in 1983 with a degree in Business Marketing and received his Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1987.

1st Sergeant Hurst is a graduate of the 14th Basic Training Class of the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and served 20 years with the Lake County Police Department before joining the NILEA staff in 2025. 1st Sergeant Hurst is a Certified Law Enforcement Training Board Instructor holding psychomotor skills endorsement in Firearms (Hand gun, Rifle, and Shot Gun), Field training officer, Field Training Supervisor, Active shooter/de-escalation instructor. While at Lake County PD, 1st Sergeant Hurst was a Patrolman, SWAT Operator, and Detective. 1st Sergeant Hurst worked in the Special Victims Unit, FBI Human Trafficking Task Force, and FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Prior to becoming a Lake County Police Officer, he worked 5 years in the Lake County Jail as a Correctional Officer. 1st Sergeant Hurst finished his career at the Lake County Sheriff’s Department as a Patrol Supervisor at the Rank of Corporal.