Will County voters are selecting a new sheriff as three-term Sheriff Mike Kelley retires. Republican candidate James “Jim” Reilly competes against Democrat Patrick Jones, with both bringing extensive experience in the sheriff’s office.
Candidate Profiles
Kelley, who served as sheriff since 2014, decided not to run again. Reilly, aged 60, is a deputy in the Will County sheriff’s department with 24 years in law enforcement. He has served as a K-9 officer, juvenile officer, and worked in an undercover organized crime unit alongside federal agencies to tackle serious crimes like narcotics and gang activities. Reilly, a Wilmington resident, holds a doctorate in criminal justice, specializing in global leadership. His doctoral research and subsequent book focus on community relations and policing strategies.
Jones, aged 50, a Will County sergeant, manages the patrol division. With 25 years in the office, his experience spans corrections, crime scene investigations, SWAT operations, and crisis negotiation leadership. Jones, from Joliet, has led numerous critical investigations, earning accolades such as life-saving awards, and helped secure a conviction in a high-profile racial and religiously motivated murder case. His work includes aiding an individual facing a suicide crisis and training deputies.
Key Issues and Campaign Focus
Patrick Jones
Jones aims to enhance community visibility for officers to foster problem-solving. He emphasizes transparency, advocating for the release of officer-involved force videos. This approach builds public trust, he argues. Jones stresses the importance of expanding mental health resources for officers and offering training for handling community mental health issues. He proposes reducing recidivism by offering jail-based training programs similar to those in DuPage and Cook counties. These programs focus on trades like welding and small engine repair.
“I don’t want to send people to jail to make them better criminals,” Jones stated.
James “Jim” Reilly
Crime reduction and safety improvement are central to Reilly’s campaign. He intends to employ intelligence-based policing to target crime hotspots and wants proactive measures against smash-and-grab burglaries. Enhancing collaboration with the state attorney’s office and federal organizations is vital for achieving effective prosecution. Reilly also supports officer mental health programs and training for handling mental health emergencies.
“In my background, I have great relationships with federal agencies,” Reilly said. “This is where Will County needs improvement.”
Reilly criticizes the SAFE-T Act, urging its reform or repeal. He also highlights the role of license plate reader cameras in crime prevention but calls for careful regulation and limited data retention.
Technology in Law Enforcement
Both candidates acknowledge technology’s role in law enforcement. Jones plans to raise awareness about elder financial crimes and online child exploitation. He proposes more officer involvement in senior communities to explain and prevent such crimes. Additionally, he wants a task force to protect children online.
“As technology grows, you will have more crimes through technology,” Jones noted.
Reilly supports community programs to combat crimes against seniors and plans to involve banks in monitoring suspicious financial activities. He sees artificial intelligence as an emerging concern and stresses the need for law enforcement to address its potential misuse.
Leave a Reply