Mike Kelley: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: LockportWebsite: Kelley for Will County SheriffOffice sought: Will County Sheriff Age: 47Family: Married 22 years Three Sons Sean 17 Ryan 16 Quinn 14Occupation: Detective/Sergeant Will County Sheriffs OfficeEducation: Fall 1985-Spring 1988 Joliet Junior College Criminal Justice/Law EnforcementCivic involvement: I am dedicated to serving the children and families of Will County. I have volunteered as a coach for our local basketball, football and baseball clubs in Lockport, I am proud of the years I dedicated to the youth in our community.Elected offices held: 2005-2009 Elected 4th Ward Alderman, City Council 2009-2011- Elected Lockport Township Collector 2011-2013- Appointed Lockport Township Trustee 2013-present- Elected Lockport Township TrusteeQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?I am running because I have more than 25 years serving in the WC Sheriff's Dept at virtually every level. I know first-hand the internal and external problems that the department is facing. I believe the lines of communication among county departments need to be strengthened. I will open a direct line of communication and form a stronger collaboration with the Will County Board to keep them appraised of the needs in the Sheriff's department and to make them aware of my long term plan to strengthen and enhance public safety.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?NAWhat crime should be the department's top target. Drugs? Gang violence? Child sex abuse? Something else? Why? What steps will you take to address the priorities as you see them?Heroin and its distribution are crimes that will be targeted in my administration. I will formulate a plan to focus on the WC Heroin problem that has become an epidemic, killing our children. I will work in collaboration with surrounding counties including Cook to target the dealers/ distributors. My goal is to provide prevention, intervention and education for our families; this is a proven Public Health/Safety plan. I will work with our State's Attorney, County Executive, Coroner, Schools, parents other agencies throughout WC to raise the awareness to implement a Heroin Prevention Plan to save our children.Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the sheriff's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expense or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?I will restructure the WC Sheriff's Patrol department and the Adult Det Facility department shift hours, this plan will provide 12 hour shifts that create twice the coverage during the busiest time of day when it is most needed. I will evaluate and review every position with an internal oversight committee to ensure that cost effective measures are applied to all positions in the office. The most important outcome is to ensure that public safety is met at all levels. These are cost effective measures that I will prioritize.Name one concrete program you'll create or personnel move you'll make to improve efficiency in the department or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.Evidence Protocol and Storage I will develop a plan for consolidating the storage of evidence into one secure building as opposed to the four separate structures the department currently utilizes. One of those structures is the padlocked trailer from which heroin was stolen in 2011. The stolen heroin raised the concern with evidence storage to a crisis level. Additionally, I will restore critical training for personnel responsible for storing and cataloging evidence to ensure that the highest law enforcement security standards are rigidly followed. My plan will also include cross-reference stored evidence to assist in other unresolved crimes.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Department Morale: I have served in the WC Sheriff's Department for the past 25 years and one of the biggest problems I have observed is the deterioration of staff morale. In the past there was a strong unity among all departments, where we worked together. Today the departments are not unified, our employees are not as a team. This problem has caused staff morale to drop as well as affecting productivity. My goal is to unify the WC Sheriff's Dept at all levels, bringing our staff together to ensure public safety at all levels.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Jim Valvano:His courage and strength helped me realize that you never give up on your dreams.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The greatest lesson I learned is that the only way to accomplish your goals are through hard work and dedication.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?There is nothing I would do over the mistakes that I have made throughout my life have made me a stronger and better person.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?In college I had the opportunity to take a criminal justice class. This solidified my desire and passion to make criminal justice my career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You get out of life everything you put into it. Give 100% and you will get 100% back.