Robert Russell: 2026 candidate for Kane County Sheriff

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: Kane County Sheriff

City: Hampshire

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired sergeant and current police officer

Previous offices held: Kane County Coroner

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I have 33 years of broad spectrum law enforcement experience, including corrections (important as the sheriff is the warden of the county jail), court security and patrol. I was promoted through the ranks from deputy to corporal to sergeant (retired). I was then elected as a law enforcement administrator (coroner) and held that office for 12 years. I am also a current police officer with up-to-date certifications through the state of Illinois. The Illinois statutes state that the coroner and the sheriff have the same powers (55ILCS 5/3-3007), so technically, this office aligns with 3 decades of experience.

I am ready to continue serving at the Kane County Sheriff’s office. It is my opinion that accreditation is the next logical step in the progression of the office, and I have extensive experience in getting offices accredited. I am the only candidate with accreditation experience.

I helped with accreditation at the DuPage County Sheriff’s office and led the charge on the Kane County Coroner’s office (another law enforcement office) by becoming the first accredited coroner’s office in Illinois. This will ensure that the office is run to national standards.

How would you describe the relationship between the sheriff’s office and the county board? What steps would you take to improve that relationship?

The current status of the relationship is good, but could be better. I have extensive experience working with the county board system. Records will show that I have collaborated with many sources to get positive results. I have worked well with many county board members on projects and I have pushed back when others have tried to manipulate office procedures, rather than what is right.

It is a tough environment as all players have agendas. My only agenda is to serve the residents of Kane County by running the sheriff’s office with integrity and utmost efficiency. The step that I would take to improve the relationship is national accreditation. The standards created by the accreditation agency are based on thousands of incidents, interactions and results with police agencies. County board members need articulable facts to understand why resources are needed.

Accreditation provides a system and pattern to supply that. Accreditation also helps insulate agencies from lawsuits, which the board would appreciate. I am the only candidate with that experience.

How would you describe the sheriff’s office’s reputation when it comes to dealing with the media and providing public information about crime in unincorporated areas? How would that change if you are elected?

I am unaware of any issues with relationships with the sheriff’s office and the media. All I can say is what my administration will do. I will hire a civilian PIO as a contact to make sure information flows appropriately and timely. I have always had a good relationship with the media as an administrator. I understand and respect the job that the media has, and try to accommodate when I can.

It is always difficult to strike a balance between appropriate dissemination and when to hold back information. Most media outlets understand the importance of withholding information during an ongoing investigation. I can honestly say that I have a reputation of working well with the press and releasing information at appropriate times.

I have always made myself available to media, even on weekends, holidays and times when I am away. I have taken and returned calls when out of town on vacation on several occasions. That standard will not change.

Are there enough deputies on the street, and are they properly deployed? What changes would you make?

I think most people would agree that public safety is and must continue to be a priority. Illinois’ population has decreased, but Kane County population growth has increased. The office is currently staffed adequately to handle high priority calls on our street patrol.

Where we are lacking is in our detective ranks. Because the detectives are promoted through the patrol division, we must continue to hire new officers and lateral transfers into street patrol. We must also look outside the box for solutions. I have a plan that will assist us to help fill in that shortage of detectives.

By creating a property crimes task force, on the same model as the major crimes task force, we can utilize resource sharing with other municipalities’ detectives and investigators. As the sheriff, I will have the ability to deputize area detectives so that they have jurisdiction throughout the county.

This is a good way to leverage our personnel across the county, in the same fashion as the major crimes task force. The individual investigators on the property crimes task force will still be responsible and accountable to their parent agency, but will also be able to share abilities.

Why are you the best person to serve in this role?

Three reasons: I have the proven experience: 33 years of broad-based law enforcement, almost all on the county level. I have corrections, court security and patrol experience and have been an LE administrator. Recently, I also have gained experience in campus policing (we have 3 community colleges and 2 universities in the county). I am a current police office, up-to-date on active certification. I also have mass casualty (Aurora tragedy), national disaster (Katrina and Rita), and community policing experience.

I also have proven leadership: The last 12 years as coroner have shown my ability to build teams and get positive things done. Lastly, I have a plan called the Russell blueprint (see website for details). A written down, articulate, concrete plan of what I am going to do, not abstract ideas or subjective suggestions.

When running for coroner in 2012, I articulated and communicated what I was going to do, and did it. I have initiated that same method here in the sheriff’s race. I offer no surprise agenda. People will know exactly what I am going to do and can hold me accountable to it.