Nygren, challengers spar over future of Mexican exchange program

As drug-related violence south of the border soared to unprecedented levels two years ago, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren suspended a program sending his deputies to Mexico to learn about the growing Latino population they were serving back home.

His opponent in November's election, Democrat Mike Mahon, says the program should go from temporary hiatus to permanently canceled.

Mahon, of Lake in the Hills, said Wednesday that if elected he would immediately end the program, which sends sheriff's deputies to the central Mexican state of Zacatecas for up to 30 days to work alongside their Mexican counterparts.

In return, police departments in Zacatecas have sent officers to McHenry County to learn about the American justice system.

Nygren said the program, started in 2003, was beneficial until extreme levels of violence across Mexico caused him to suspend it. He said he will not consider restarting it until Mexican authorities "get the situation under control."

"Anytime you can bring about an understanding and appreciation of another culture, it's a good thing," said the three-term Republican. "It was an opportunity for us to have our officers learn more about a very large minority of people they serve."

Mahon, however, calls the program a waste of sheriff's resources. Although the department does not pay for the deputies' travel and lodging, they do pay their salaries while in Mexico.

"Do they have to go to Mexico (to learn about the culture)? Absolutely not," Mahon said. "We need the officers and manpower here in McHenry County. I don't see any benefit in sending them to Mexico."

Mahon, who works in the Cook County Sheriff's Office, said he would replace the program with in-house training about the culture of not only Mexicans, but other immigrant populations in the county.

"I believe there is a political angle," he added. "He's going after the Mexican vote on this."

"Absolutely not," Nygren said in response to the claim. "It has nothing to do with currying favor with anyone."

Green Party candidate Gus Philpott agreed with Mahon that cultural training could be conducted just as well locally.

"Now, or in the near future, is not the time to be sending U.S. law enforcement officers to central Mexico," he said.