Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, who has been missing from the public eye for months, announces his retirement

The Kane County sheriff, who has been missing from the public eye for around six months, announced Friday that he’s stepping down to “focus on his health and to ensure continuity of leadership.”

Sheriff Ron Hain will retire on Nov. 1, ending his 30-year career in law enforcement, according to a news release from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney’s Office. He declined interviews, asking that the public “respect his privacy as he focuses on his health,” but said in a statement that “serving the people of Kane County has been the honor of my life.”

“I’m proud of what we built together and prouder still of the men and women of this office who show up for this community every single day,” he said.

Hain hasn’t made a public appearance since at least the spring. The Tribune had submitted Freedom of Information requests about Hain’s absence Wednesday to the sheriff’s office.

Rumors of the reason behind Hain’s absence have swirled over the past year.

On April 10, Undersheriff Amy Johnson had told members of the sheriff’s office in an email that she was “aware of recent rumors regarding the Sheriff’s health.” She said Hain was currently in the hospital, but didn’t disclose the reason.

“Please be assured that we will continue to adhere to the established chain of command, and operations will proceed as normal,” she said. “We will provide updates as appropriate.”

Since then, there’s been no public explanation for Hain’s disappearance. When Hain was first elected in 2018, he had been among the most accessible in suburban law enforcement until he disappeared from the public eye.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has, during this time, declined to comment at county meetings and in news inquiries on what she characterized as “details related to personnel matters, including whether or not a person is on a leave of absence.”

Mosser said in a Friday statement that she wants to thank Hain for his years of service. She said he helped her take on her role when she was newly elected, calling him a “mentor” and “trusted friend.”

“His vision for the jail in providing treatment and job skills transformed the way we look at criminal justice,” she said. “It has been an honor to work alongside him.”

Hain, of Elburn, isn’t seeking reelection to what would be a third term. He announced his intention not to run for another term in early 2025, casting his support behind Johnson, who is running as the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3 election.

Johnson will also step into the position of sheriff after Hain retires “until another sheriff is elected or appointed,” the news release said. It’s unclear if she had already been serving in this position for the past six months while Hain was absent.

In a July 16 county board committee meeting, county board member Myrna Molina asked whether, in keeping with the chain of command, the undersheriff is “given operational oversight” if “the sheriff is not available.” Johnson confirmed that is correct.

Johnson said Friday that Hain’s vision “transformed how we serve our community and will continue to guide this office for years to come.”

Her Republican opponent in the sheriff’s race, Rob Russell, said Friday in a phone call that he’s glad Hain “got a chance to retire” and that “hopefully he’s doing well.”

Russell, the former Kane County coroner, said Johnson overseeing the sheriff’s office appeared to work “fine,” but criticized a lack of transparency about Hain’s absence.

“I don’t blame (Hain) for that,” Russell said. “But … the people that he left in charge should have done something a little bit more responsible for the people.”

And he said he doesn’t think Johnson should be given “a leg up” when it comes to the election, now that she has the title of acting sheriff.

“I have faith in the people, and, and they see through stuff,” Russell said. “If this is some kind of October surprise, we’ll call it … hopefully the people will see through that.”

The news release commended Hain for his “innovative programs” that improved public safety and addressed the opioid crisis. It said he launched the “A Way Out” program in 2019 to help people struggling with drug addiction access treatment as well as the social worker program in 2021.

“What distinguished his service was his belief that public safety and second chances could go hand in hand,” said Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog. “He worked to create opportunities for individuals with criminal backgrounds to develop valuable job skills, rebuild their self-respect and make positive changes in their lives.

Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley also said she contacted Hain many times for assistance and “he never failed to provide these much-needed resources.” She appreciated his “professionalism, cooperation and a commitment to the safety of all in Kane County.”

Former Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, meanwhile, commended Hain’s “innovative approach to developing programs for inmates to help put their lives in a positive direction and reduce recidivism” which he said “raised the bar for sheriff’s offices across the country.”

Daily Herald reporters Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas as well as freelance reporter Alicia Fabbre contributed reporting.