The following candidates are seeking the nomination of their respective parties during the March 17 primary. We are covering Morgan, Scott and Greene counties.
Greene County
Longtime Greene County Sheriff Rob McMillen announced that he would not be seeking another term and is retiring at the end of his current term. There are one Democrat and three Republicans seeking to be the next sheriff.
Democrat Ben Picou
Picou is running unopposed for the Democrat nomination for sheriff in Greene County.
1. What specific steps will you take to build trust with Greene County residents?
I feel that I already have the trust of Greene County residents. I served 2 terms as Greene County Sheriff where my office & I provided a tremendous organization. I won by an overwhelming mandate. I did not continue with a 3rd term due to the Sheriff’s salary being so low, that I had to continue my law enforcement employment as an Investigator for the Illinois Attorney General. Over the years, the Sheriff’s salary continued to increase due to Illinois mandates. I then served 3 more terms as Randolph County Sheriff. I have always provided the most efficient & accountable Sheriff’s Office in the State.
2. How will you improve transparency and accountability of the Sheriff’s Office?
I have already accomplished that many times over during my tenure as Sheriff. My office & books have always been open to the public & County audits. Normally, my office was guided by a Sheriff’s Merit Commission where employment & promotions are in constant review. If necessary, since Greene County does not have a Merit Board, I would like to see a Civilian Board of Review appointed for rapid accountability.
3. How will you address mental health crises and substance abuse issues within the community?
I always prioritize mental health crises. The U.S.A. is severely short of mental health professionals, which is a major problem with the system. Too many times, it is left up to the local police when confronting a situation. Over the years many health facilities have closed, from Jacksonville to many Zone centers. Years back it was easy to take a mental health patient to one of these centers, but in reality, it was basic warehousing of the patient. Not much treatment, but a temporary holding place. I would want to make sure that I coordinate very closely with the professionals in the area, so as to prevent the confinement to a county jail, which in reality does not solve the problem. As to substance abuse, another is the usage of those professionally trained in intervention and treatment. Most police are not trained in the treatment or handling of a drug abuser. They are basically trained to arrest, not intervene. The main emphasis would be to concentrate on those distributing or selling the drugs. I have had tremendous success in fully tamping down the drug sales problem.
4. How will you prioritize budget allocation for staffing, technology, and community programs?
Budgeting will always be a continual review process. Budgeted funds can be shifted as the venues are studied. All will receive equal review as they are part of the entire system of law enforcement and prevention. It is an ongoing experiment & study which I have had excellent success with my 20 years serving as Sheriff.
5. What is your plan for addressing homelessness issues?
As an individual who experienced a brief time of homelessness, I have first-hand knowledge of the problem. It is a problem that haunts this nation. There are so many reasons for homelessness; some want to remain homeless, while others are victims of a situation in their lives. During my years as Sheriff, I have made a supreme effort to provide comfort. So many times, especially in inclement weather, I would attempt to get the subject to spend the night at the county. There, I would ensure the person that we would clean their clothes, provide a shower and a good meal. Then I would contact the agency best suited to continue the situation, such as ministries, shelters or those who have a better situation than a lockup. No agency can turn a blind eye to this national problem.
6. What are your plans for the Greene County Jail?
My plans for the Greene County Jail are to improve it for long-term usage. I opened the Greene County Jail & always received the highest state ratings. I operated 2 county jails for 20 years as Sheriff. I never had a suicide or major injury in the jail, due to proper staffing. I want to secure a major Federal grant to enlarge and improve the jail. Randolph County just secured a 4.2 million dollar grant to tally rework the jail and Sheriff’s complex. There is money available and I fully intend to accomplish the same for Greene County.
7. How will continue partnerships and patrol agreements with the small villages of the county?
The Sheriff’s office will work hand in hand with all law enforcement agencies in the area. If city councils request certain upgrades to their departments, we will be there to meet with them and together find the best solution for their needs. We are all in the same profession, to Serve and Protect.
8. Will there be any particular focus on certain enforcement mechanisms, crime or traffic interdiction you plan to take?
One main problem I have discovered while campaigning is the fact that so many citizens state that they have not seen a patrol in their area for years. Some of this is due to deputy Sheriffs being utilized for court duty or handling inmates. I plan on expanding the duties of the Correctional Officers to handle prisoner transports and bringing offenders to court. This will free up the Deputies to be out where they belong, providing protection and patrols for the citizens. I will review patrol patterns and possibly assign Deputies to pre-determined patrol areas so the entire county can be covered. I have done this before and had great success. Deputies will be expected to be circulating the county, not remain stationary or go home early. I will have a well trained Deputy-Investigator to concentrate on drug enforcement. I graduated from the FBI National Academy and have a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement where I concentrated on management skills for this type of establishing a well managed office.
9. How will you continue/change any partnerships with neighboring counties when it comes to sharing resources and/or housing inmates?
This is one of the reasons I want to expand and upgrade the Greene County Jail, not only for Greene County Offenders, but for another county who may need a place for confinement of inmates. I always worked in depth with surrounding counties. I do want to return the 911 system to Greene County which will give the cities, county and emergency services better control of their system. I will also attempt to possibly open the Department of Corrections facility south of Roodhouse to house Federal inmates. I have been studying how to upgrade the facility. I know Ste. Genevieve, MO just added another 200 beds to an existing facility that they built specifically for Federal inmates. It has provided a tremendous revenue source for the county and provides a large number of good paying jobs. And, we all know this area needs more employment.
Republican Chris Weller
1. What specific steps will you take to build trust with Greene County residents?
I am fortunate that I live here, work here, and I’m from here, so I’ve been able to establish trusting relationships with a lot of people in our county already. I have been a deputy or officer across Greene County for my entire career, and I believe I have been able to create that trust in situations related to my work, as well. For the people that I don’t already have that relationship with, I believe that being present and visible, listening to the community’s concerns or ideas, and leading with integrity will be the key to creating a trusting relationship. In addition to those inherent initiatives, I intend to build on the trust I have earned by following through on what I say or what is best for our County, part of which is being fiscally responsible while working with the County Board.
2. How will you improve transparency and accountability of the Sheriff’s Office?
I believe that our current Sheriff has been transparent and accountable, so I don’t know that there is a great need for improvement. My plan for being transparent and accountable as Sheriff is to always offer and maintain open communication with the County Board, the public, Courthouse, and jail or other County and Public Organizations. A lot of things can be solved through communication, so that will be number one. I also think that the requirement of body cameras by Deputies contributes to accountability and transparency.
3. How will you address mental health crises and substance abuse issues within the community?
We all know what the data shows – mental health crises and substance abuse is on the rise. I believe that we are already getting ahead of those issues in Greene County as we’ve implemented additional training, established positive working relationships with mental health providers, and work closely with medical providers to assist with drug abuse issues. I’d like to continue building on those efforts and offer educational opportunities for the school to address drug abuse issues from an early age. I also know that our Greene County Health Department has taken an active role in working to make mental health a priority in our communities, so I’d like to offer assistance with those programs in any way our Deputies can help.
4. How will you prioritize budget allocation for staffing, technology, and community programs?
First and foremost, our budget needs to support the acquisition and/or maintenance of qualified staff. We need to budget for increased training, additional continuing education opportunities, and support staff. I’d also like to implement an educational component across our County, but I believe that would have a minimal impact on the budget. I need to review technology and would work to secure any additional funding needed for making improvements where necessary. Technology is always moving at an insanely quick pace, so it’s a matter of reviewing what we already have, what will be most beneficial for our County/staff, comparing cost to impact, and remaining fiscally responsible while offering the best and most useful tools.
5. What is your plan for addressing homelessness issues?
We are fortunate that Greene County doesn’t have a great deal of homelessness, but I believe there is quite a bit that flies under the reporting radar as well. When our Sheriff’s office is made aware of a person experiencing homelessness, we have a list of contacts we can refer the person to, and typically it doesn’t take long to find an option for them. Our community does a great job of rallying around people looking for housing.
6. What are your plans for the Greene County Jail?
The Greene County Jail will remain open. It is used for more than just Greene County, and I’d like to expand staffing and service where possible. I would like to see where we can improve conditions dependent upon financial ability (pursue grants, additional funding, etc.) and make necessary improvements.
7. How will continue partnerships and patrol agreements with the small villages of the county?
Greene County is a friendly place where it seems like “everybody knows everybody”. As a County service, there are no agreements required – we assist with all communities in the County, but cover villages that are not immediately staffed by their own police department. I intend to continue that positive relationship, so it never becomes an issue. We all support each other, that’s one of the things that makes Greene County great.
8. Will there be any particular focus on certain enforcement mechanisms, crime or traffic interdiction you plan to take?
One of the things I’d like to do is reintroduce the Street Interdiction Team (SIT); it’s a concept of concentrated policing to focus on specific types of crime in certain areas (such as speeding, burglary, drug activity). I’d also consider adding License Plate Readers (LPR) on high traffic areas in the County as a way of identifying stolen vehicles, crime research (creating a timeline for crimes for travel), and following up on warrants – LPRs are not used for giving speeding tickets, just for clarification. In my time with Greene County Sheriff’s Office I was part of the Multiple Response Team (MRT), I’d like to reintroduce that concept with greater emphasis placed on investigations, specifically those with high likelihood of felony charges.
9. How will you continue/change any partnerships with neighboring counties when it comes to sharing resources and/or housing inmates?
There are already contract(s) in place for using the jail, so that wouldn’t change. I see a lot of value in cooperation between counties, municipalities, other law enforcement agencies to provide the safest Greene County and engage multiple layers of options for quality law enforcement. Something I’d like to see is additional mutual aid with neighboring counties/municipalities to ensure we are able to provide the quickest response times possible. Our county may not seem big, but having to travel across 20 miles when there is an emergency seems like a long time. If we can work together, we can cut those times drastically and engage resources to better support our communities. In the same regard, I think maintaining those partnerships to better serve in large scale operations is extremely important.
Republican Clark Wallis
- What specific steps will you take to build trust with Greene County residents?
As Sheriff I will take several steps to build trust with residents. I will ensure residents are treated friendly and fairly from the time they call and speak with dispatch to the disposition of their matter. Members of the Sheriff’s Office will also have an increased presence at community and school events throughout the county. I want to show the public that we are not just here to enforce the law, but also to listen, answer questions, and educate. Lastly, I will build trust with the residents by simply being present, day or night. I want to be a Sheriff that you see at the gas station at 9pm or 5am and think to yourself, does he ever sleep?
- How will you improve transparency and accountability of the Sheriff’s Office?
I will improve transparency by increasing the Sheirff’s Office social media presence. I will issue press releases for arrests, large purchases, etc. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, and I plan to keep the public informed on what steps we take to save money while also providing adequate service. I will also work to establish portals through the county’s website to view the county jail roster, activity reports, etc.
- How will you address mental health crises and substance abuse issues within the community?
As a law enforcement officer, I have completed a 40-hour course in crisis intervention. During this class paid actors are brought in to provide as close to real life situations as possible. As Sheriff I will send deputies and correctional officers to this training, as well as continuing education courses. I will partner with the Health Department to identify and help those with mental health or substance abuse issues.
- How will you prioritize budget allocation for staffing, technology, and community programs?
Staffing is a major expense in the budget. Not just paying for the staffing but also providing coverage while that employee uses their earned time off. As a working Sheriff, who is salary, I will prioritize covering shifts for employees to lower the burden of overtime or part-time coverage. The money I save on staffing can be used to update technology or other items enabling employees to better do their job.
- What is your plan for addressing homelessness issues?
Unfortunately, most homelessness is a result of ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues. The health department in Greene County has implemented several programs, but the reality is Greene County itself does not have the resources or funding to handle large numbers of homeless people. As Sheriff, I would assist the health department in helping those that face homelessness get to areas with more abundant resources.
- What are your plans for the Greene County Jail?
The current Greene County Jail was built in the 1970’s and recently underwent renovations. I would continue to operate the current Greene County Jail for the foreseeable future. A long-term goal would be to secure funding through federal grants to return tax dollars to Greene County to construct a new Jail.
- How will continue partnerships and patrol agreements with the small villages of the county?
There are currently not any patrol agreements between the county and the small villages within the county. I plan to establish a multistep approach to provide better patrol coverage in the villages and rural areas. I will establish a list of business and property owners that wish to have security checks done. As part of a deputy’s patrol responsibilities, they will be required to check the location and verify it is secure. Deputies will also be required to spend a certain amount of time patrolling a village. Lastly, I will explore substations opening at two village halls. The substations would be a minimal cost to taxpayers. All that would be required is a small room that would have a desk and a computer where deputies could complete reports or interview subjects. A phone could be placed on the exterior of the building where someone could pick up, and the phone would immediately call dispatch. An exterior camera could also be set up to be monitored by dispatch, providing a safe meeting location for child custody exchange, internet purchases, etc.
- Will there be any particular focus on certain enforcement mechanisms, crime or traffic interdiction you plan to take?
My three main areas of focus will be on Drugs, Pedophiles, and thefts/burglaries. I will send a deputy to train to become a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). This will allow better enforcement of driving under the influence of drugs (DUI). In Illinois a DUI charge will suspend your license for a certain amount of time. If you are caught driving suspended later, you could be arrested and your vehicle towed. This could lead to finding drugs and more charges brought against the offender. I will seek inclusion in the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This task force is operated by the Illinois Attorney General and provides information sharing and training to stay up to date on the latest ways pedophiles pray on our youth. Lastly, I will train to become a crime scene technician to better collect physical evidence at the scene of burglaries or other crimes. This will allow for stronger cases against thieves.
- How will you continue/change any partnerships with neighboring counties when it comes to sharing resources and/or housing inmates?
As Sheriff, I will continue to house inmates for Calhoun and Scott Counties. I will also continue partnerships currently in place with surrounding counties.
Republican Cale Hoesman
- What specific steps will you take to build trust with Greene County residents?
Building trust with the taxpayers of this county would be a priority if elected. To accomplish this, I would keep the citizens informed about the Sheriff’s Office either through social media or the media. I would make myself available to talk to every citizen either in person or by phone.
2. How will you improve transparency and accountability of the Sheriff’s Office?
If elected, the Sheriff’s office would be 100% transparent to the public. My doors would be open to speak with anyone. I would also be active on social media informing the public about the activities the department is doing. I would also like to implement an app for the Sheriff’s Office. This is an app that goes on the cellular devices and informs the public who has warrants, who is in custody at the jail, and many other resources that the citizens can use.
Not only would I hold myself accountable to the public, I would also hold the employees that work at the Sheriff’s Office accountable. As public officials we work for the people of Greene County. I will demand the employees be fair, ethical and demonstrate high personal standards.
3. How will you address mental health crises and substance abuse issues within the community?
The mental health crisis is becoming a huge problem. I would work closely with the Greene County Health Dept., Locust St Resource Center and the courts. More resources are needed for mental health issues, and I feel that working with these agencies we can bring those resources to our area to help those suffering from mental health.
Substance abuse has been an ongoing issue in Greene County. I would like to see more education in the schools for the kids with programs such as DARE. I would like for the Deputies to begin more drug enforcement and also like to pass on my training to the Deputies to enhance the enforcement that is already being done. Finally, I would work with the courts and other organizations to provide help for those that truly want to become clean and assist them in getting that help.
4. How will you prioritize budget allocation for staffing, technology, and community programs?
The Budget set by the county board for staffing is set by union contract with the employees. Therefore, the Sheriff has little control in the staffing aspect of the budget without board approval. Community programs would be a minimal cost if any. Most of this would be giving presentations and attending events throughout the county. Technology, however, is one thing that is ever evolving. The department is in need of new in-car computers. I wrote and received a grant for the current ones in 2006. These are in dire need of replacement. This would be one priority that I would be addressing if elected.
5. What is your plan for addressing homelessness issues?
The homeless issue and the mental issue run hand and hand. The Greene County Health department has made great strides in addressing booth issues. I would like to continue to work with them to provide resources for the homeless in our area.
6. What are your plans for the Greene County Jail?
The Greene County jail has had some major renovations in the past three years. Over a half of a million dollars has been spent to bring the jail up to a more modern facility. At this time, I feel there are no pressing issues for the jail. The jail would continue to operate as is and house not only Greene County inmates but also inmates from other counties.
7. How will continue partnerships and patrol agreements with the small villages of the county?
The Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement for the smaller villages in the county. I would meet and work with village presidents and boards to determine their needs and requests. I would also require the patrol deputies to spend time in each village on every shift. The number one deterrent to crime is the presence of law enforcement.
8. Will there be any particular focus on certain enforcement mechanisms, crime or traffic interdiction you plan to take?
A majority of the crimes committed in Greene County are drug related. The underlying crimes are usually committed by the drug users, who are attempting to get money or other goods to sell or trade for their drug of choice. I have spent most of my career focusing on illegal narcotics and I have completed specialized training with the DEA. I would like to take this experience and training and pass this on to other officers who can lead in the drug investigations to continue the accomplishments that we have made.
9. How will you continue/change any partnerships with neighboring counties when it comes to sharing resources and/or housing inmates?
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has a great working relationship with our neighboring counties. I have worked many investigations with officers from the adjoining counties and created a great relationship with them. As seen by the endorsements I have received from the other county officers, these relationships will continue and we will work together because crime doesn’t stop at a county line; it spans many miles.
