When Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez announced his run for a second term at the end of October, it came as a surprise to no one. Especially himself.
“We’ve made a lot of strides in taking the department in a positive direction,” Perez said. “There’s still a lot of work as an agency I’d like to see us accomplish before I go.”
Perez took the time for a few questions with The Republican about the next run at his job.
Q What improvements have you seen in Kane County since you took the job?
A Well, I’d say probably ... the biggest (is) our accountability. I promised to have our deputies that work the streets be subject to mandatory random drug testing. We got that into the contracts. ... I reduced the overtime in the last two years. In 2007 and 2008, we saved a total over $440,000 over two years, so that was a pretty substantial savings. ... (Another big thing) has been our migration from the old Fabyan Parkway building to our new home on Route 38. The fact that we moved 511 inmates in the middle of the night while the public slept, a high-risk, high-security operation, flawlessly. I could not be more proud of the people in our agency that pulled that off.
Q Is there anything you think could be done better in the future?
A I think there’s always things you can do better. Obviously we make mistakes like everybody else, we learn from our mistakes and try not to make the same mistake a second time. Overall it’s been a positive experience. ... We’re doing our part to shave ($2 million) from the budget for 2010. To show leadership, myself and (non-union employees in the Sheriff’s Office) have agreed to take a wage freeze next year. I can’t ask anyone below us to do anything we’re not willing to do ourselves.
Q What do you see as the biggest problems in Kane County, and how can those issues be addressed?
A The biggest problem I think is there has to be a a good solid open relationship between not just my office but any office in the county board. We have to share information and treat each other with dignity and respect. ... As for citizens, I’m working with fewer (officers) than our department has ever had. ... That may elongate our response time a little bit. It’s different for us, we’re not a city department. (City departments’) backup might be 30 seconds away. We’re in rural areas; sometimes our backup is 15 minutes away. Sometimes you have to call other agencies (to get backup).
Q Your opponent, republican Rob Russell, has criticized you for lacking leadership. What is your response to that?
A From a leadership standpoint, I was given a leadership award from the department when I was a sergeant for the leadership I showed in our agency. ... I’ve always been one that’s led by example. I’d like (to see anyone) point out where I haven’t shown leadership.
