Mike Quiroz: Candidate Profile

Back to DuPage County Sheriff

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: West ChicagoWebsite: www.citizensformikeq.comOffice sought: DuPage County Sheriff Age: 57Family: Wife three children, Son and two daughtersOccupation: Business ownerEducation: Willowbrook High School College of DuPage: Associates Degree in Criminal Justice Aurora University: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal JusticeCivic involvement: Men's Auxiliary Post 2801Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers Outline two initiatives you have for the sheriff's office.DuPage county should know I will be a working accountable Sheriff. As Sheriff I will gain the trust of the citizens of DuPage County by being a true representative and not a politician. As a representative I will reach out and communicate with the people of DuPage county and solicit their suggestions and concerns. As Sheriff I will return the ethics to the Sheriff's Office. I will prohibit all of my employees from donating to my campaign. The only way for advancement and promotion will be through hard work and dedication to the people of DuPage County.What steps can be taken to make the sheriff's office more efficient, both in terms of law enforcement and in terms of saving taxpayers money?During the current Sheriff's 17 years in office, he has created one of the highest paid correction and court security divisions in the state if not the country. As Sheriff and your responsible representative I will create a separate correction division and court security divisions at a reduced rate of pay. The current deputies will not be affected. All of these steps will be completed through attrition. The savings will create funds to hire additional deputies which will increase services and greatly reduce the millions of tax dollars spent on overtime. These steps will be completed with no additional taxation.What are your thoughts about reducing the size of the sheriff's patrol division and asking local police departments to patrol some unincorporated areas?Reducing the patrol division would be a great loss to the people of DuPage county. If managed correctly the Sheriff's patrol division could be a vital law enforcement tool for all citizens of DuPage county. Re-organizing the Sheriff's office as outlined above would allow me as Sheriff to increase services to all in DuPage, including the towns, with no additional tax increase. Local police departments would charge more to cover the un-incorporated areas. Managed correctly, the Sheriff's department can cover these areas more efficiently at a greater savings.What role should the sheriff's office play in the county's battle against heroin and other drugs?The heroin epidemic in DuPage county last year has claimed 46 lives and is on track this year to exceed that number. As Sheriff, this will be one of my top initiatives to send a message to drug dealers not to target DuPage county with their poison. As Sheriff I will take an active roll to lead a DuPage law enforcement effort against heroin dealers. I will solicit the assistance of the Illinois State Police so that my office can leave the jurisdiction of DuPage county and arrest drug dealer anywhere in Illinois who targets DuPage county citizens.Does the sheriff's office have a responsibility to inform residents about serious crimes in a timely matter? How specifically could such communication be improved and what steps would you take to ensure that happens?As a candidate for Sheriff, I have personally met with thousands of people in DuPage county and they have informed me they have very little to no communication with the Sheriff's office. This is absolutely un-acceptable and I will immediately change this practice. The people of DuPage county need to be informed of any serious crime so they would be able to take personal measures to protect themselves. As Sheriff I would improve the reverse 911 system to include serious crimes within the communities that are affected. I would improve relations with the local amber alert system as well.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I will initiate a "Deter Crime/Reduce Victimization" Program. I will implement new high visibility Sheriff's squads. These squads will be white with emerald green "Sheriff" on the side. I will replace currently used Sheriff's "Stealth Squads" (Dark blue cars with dark blue lettering). It's difficult to identify the stealth squad even 2 car length away. New squads will be identifiable over a block away. If we have more deterrent, there will be less crime and less victims. As Sheriff I will insure that the citizens will see more squads on the street and in the neighborhoods protecting the publicPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Secretary of State Jesse White, He took the Secretary of State's office and made it more efficient and worker friendly to the people of IllinoisWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To listen and then think before taking steps to complete my next assignment. Work hard, be honest and you will be rewarded.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have learned 2nd or 3rd language to better communicate with the different communities within DuPage county. I am learning now.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Auto repair. Working on my cars taught me to "DO MORE WITH LESS" As Sheriff I will do this with our tax dollars as well.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You will be looked at by others through your integrity, Have ethics, be honest, hard working and giving. Never stop learning.