Kane County sheriff remains away from work, and no one is saying why

For more than seven years after his election as Kane County sheriff in 2018, Ron Hain was among the most accessible, outgoing and public-facing figures in suburban law enforcement.

That came to an abrupt end this spring, when Hain vanished from the public eye.

Months later, the circumstances of Hain’s ongoing absence from the sheriff’s office remain shrouded in mystery.

On April 10, members of the sheriff’s office received a memo from Hain’s second-in-command, Undersheriff Amy Johnson, addressing “recent rumors regarding the Sheriff’s health.”

The five-sentence memo, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, states Hain was in the hospital, asks staff to respect his family’s privacy and promises updates “as appropriate.”

Since then, there’s been no public explanation for Hain’s leave. And, we’re told, little else has been said behind the scenes.

We’ve made several attempts in recent weeks to contact Hain by phone and via family members, but received no response.

We also reached out to Johnson on Thursday seeking clarification of Hain’s situation. Our message was forwarded to State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser, who replied: “By law and policy, we are not able to publicly disclose details related to personnel matters, including whether or not a person is on a leave of absence.

“The Sheriff's Office and this office remain fully focused on our shared mission of keeping the people of Kane County safe. That work continues without interruption and at full strength, and I have complete confidence in the Kane County Sheriff's Office and its leadership,” she added.

Hain, of Elburn, isn’t seeking reelection to what would be a third term. Johnson is running as the Democratic nominee to replace him in the Nov. 3 election.

In the meantime, Daily Herald correspondent Alicia Fabbre has been asking other Kane County leaders about the sheriff’s long absence.

When the issue came up at a recent county board meeting, Mosser said it would be illegal for her to provide any information.

“I’m not going to talk about what’s going on with the sheriff. That’s nobody’s business; that is a violation of the law,” Mosser said, adding that she works with the sheriff’s office daily and has not experienced any problems.

At another recent county board meeting, it was Johnson responding to questions about budget overruns in the sheriff’s office.

Several county board members contacted by Fabbre echoed Mosser’s comments about the sheriff’s office operating as they expect. They also declined to answer questions about Hain’s whereabouts.

“I want to make sure that my constituents are safe and that they are getting the services they expect from the sheriff’s department,” board member Jon Gripe said. “And from what I can tell, they are.”

‘Citizens need to know’

Among those hoping for more information is former Kane County Coroner Rob Russell, now the Republican candidate for sheriff. In a July 8 Facebook post, Russell asked for prayers for Hain and his family and on Thursday said he considers Hain a friend, noting they worked closely together during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While he hasn’t seen anything to indicate a cover-up, Russell said the public should expect more clarity from their sheriff’s office.

“I don’t think we need intricate details, and our hearts and minds should be with the sheriff and hoping he gets better,” Russell said.

“But I think the citizens need to know a little bit, and the sheriff’s office needs to be more transparent without violating anyone’s privacy,” he added. “I think that’s achievable. I don’t think the answer is to just shut it down.”

One more thing

Under Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund eligibility rules, sheriffs and deputies can retire with a pension when they turn 50 years old and have at least 20 years of service.

Hain served as a sworn officer for more than 20 years before being elected sheriff in 2018. And he celebrated his 50th birthday Aug. 8, according to a social media profile.

No cameras outside court, either

You probably already know better than to pull out your cellphone in a courtroom and start video recording the proceedings.

Now the same goes for the halls of justice.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation this month banning unauthorized video recording inside Illinois courthouses. Breaking the law is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Senate Bill 4038 was backed by Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke and sponsored by Sen. Laura Murphy of Des Plaines.

Burke’s office said the legislation was drafted after several “disturbing incidents” in which victims of domestic violence were filmed without their consent as they attended court hearings.

“For too long, domestic violence victims have suffered additional trauma from abusers trying to silence them,” Burke said in a statement after the bill’s signing. “This legislation protects victims and witnesses from harassment and intimidation intended to limit their participation in the criminal justice system.”

Besides videotaping, the bill defines “recording” to include livestreaming and still photography.

“Our courtrooms should feel safe and secure so victims feel comfortable sharing their story during a very stressful time in their life,” said Murphy, a Democrat who represents the 28th Senate District.

Supporters were quick to note that the law does not override court orders governing media access, and it does not apply to police body cameras.

The law, which passed both houses of the General Assembly unanimously, goes into effect Jan. 1.

The rule may not matter much to people who have business in the DuPage County Judicial Center. The court has long prohibited the public from bringing anything with a camera, including cellphones, laptop computers and tablets, into the courthouse without permission.

copsandcrime@dailyherald.com

Daily Herald correspondent Alicia Fabbre contributed to this report.