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As Sheriff, my priority is delivering the highest quality service to our residents. A major focus will be protecting vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, victims of crime, and individuals facing mental health or substance use challenges.
I am committed to ensuring every employee is properly trained, equipped, and supported to perform their duties safely, efficiently and effectively while also being fiscally responsible with taxpayer resources. Our mission will emphasize professional, transparent, and community-focused services that meet the challenges of today and are adaptable for the needs of the future.
My 25-year career has included assignments in every division of the Sheriff’s Office. I have served in multiple roles with increasing responsibility to include training, professional standards, policy development, and budgeting. This experience has prepared me to lead the agency in a manner that our community deserves.
I support the current Warrant Service Officer (WSO) agreement and would continue the agreement as Sheriff.
The WSO model applies specifically to undocumented individuals who have already been arrested for criminal violations within our communities. It is consistent with procedures followed by the Sheriff’s Office for many years and I believe that this program should remain in its current form.
I do not support expanding involvement into the Jail Enforcement Model or Task Force Model of the 287(g) program. Maintaining the current WSO agreement allows us to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, just as we cooperate with other federal agencies, while staying focused on local law enforcement priorities.
The Sheriff’s Office plays an important role in addressing both mental health and substance use in the community and jail. We have developed a strong relationship with Human Services to address mental health concerns in the community. Jail medical contracts require mental health services, and we work with the District Attorney’s Office to support diversion programs that address underlying mental health and substance use issues contributing to criminal behavior. The Sobriety Treatment Assisted Recovery (STAR) program is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and Solutions Recovery that helps incarcerated individuals committed to overcoming addiction. I strongly support maintaining this partnership and exploring opportunities to expand the program. These initiatives address the root causes of criminal behavior, helping individuals while improving the community.
The Sheriff’s Office has a specific policy for inmate voting. The Jail Administrator, or designee, serves as a liaison between the agency and the County Clerk’s Office to ensure that all eligible incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot. Sheriff’s Office employees assist the individual with obtaining acceptable identification and proof of residence to apply.
Information regarding voting opportunities is posted throughout the jail, providing specific details including a recommendation that requests are made well in advance of the election. The jail rule book also explains the process. Staff are provided detailed instructions about voting for jail residents. The League of Women Voters contact information is included on that document.
I support continued education of Sheriff’s Office staff to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regular review of voter information packets, and ensuring that information on the tablets is up to date.
Public safety first by increasing patrol presence in underserved areas of Winnebago County, reducing response times, and ensuring that every deputy has the training and equipment to do their job safely.
Community trust, increase engagement between the Sheriffs Office and the communities we serve through a dedication to transparency, regular town halls, and practical leadership.
Mental health and addiction. Expand correspondent programs, pairing deputies with mental health professionals, and further support diversion resources.
Accountability, the Winnebago County sheriffs office has strong accountability measures in place, and I’m committed to upholding those high standards while supporting a culture of professionalism and integrity.
Staffing and retention. Strengthen the sheriffs office focus on employee retention, recognizing that retaining quality employees improves morale supports recruitment efforts and reduces the cost in hiring and training new staff
I do not support the continued participation in the 287g program. While I would treat any active immigration and customs enforcement warrant the same as any other warrant, I do not believe that the policing tactics and enforcement efforts being carried out by immigration and customs enforcement are in line with the best practices of police training and tactics. I do not feel that it is appropriate for the sheriffs office to continue a partnership under a 287g agreement. I would take all of the necessary steps to end the sheriffs office participation in the 287g program.
The sheriffs office roll in the jail setting should be to facilitate more first point of contact opportunity for community resources to be able to access and provide services to people suffering from mental health issues and addiction. I believe that this can be strengthened with a co-responder model similar to those being implemented in other police agencies. Human services and the sheriff’s office should be doing more collaboration to provide more complete services in both mental health and addiction.
Programming to remove barriers to voting in a correctional setting is something that I would strongly support. I would enthusiastically work with groups like the League of Women Voters to provide assistance in registration and voting to eligible voters housed in the Winnebago County jail.
