Mike Kelley
for
Will County Sheriff
Experience Counts
Contact: Mike Kelley (779) 206-8995
July 15, 2014FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kelley garners endorsements from Deputies,
Civilian Employees and Police Supervisor's in Will County Sheriff's Department
Will County Sheriff candidate Mike Kelley has received the endorsements of three of the four unions representing the deputies and the civilian employees who work for the Will County Sheriff's Department.
Kelley, a 25-year veteran deputy and a Detective Sergeant in the Investigations Division, swept the endorsements from the Metropolitan Alliance of Police Local 123, which represents the department's supervisors, the Will County Deputy Sheriffs Union FOP 738, which represents Sheriff Deputies, and AFSCME Local 1028, which represents the Correctional Deputies and the department's civilian employees.
Kelley, a Lockport native, is proud to have garnered across-the-board endorsements from all three organizations that represent virtually every employee in the Sheriff's Department.
Futhermore, the endorsements from the unions were overwhelming. The vote tally from the deputies union was a resounding 94 percent in favor of Kelley. AFSCME 1028 employees gave Kelley 89 percent of their vote. And the vote from MAP 123 came in at 77 percent in support of Kelley.
“I am truly honored to have the backing of my fellow deputies at every level as well as the civilian employees who keep our department running smoothly,” Kelley said. “These are more than union endorsements. These are strong statements from law enforcement professionals who know what needs to be done and who are demanding new leadership and positive changes for the Sheriff's Department.”
Kelley's goal is to raise morale and breathe new life into the Department by streamlining and modernizing the way it provides services to our citizens.
One of his key reforms is to consolidate the department's evidence storage into one secure building as opposed to the four separate structures currently in use. One of those structures is an outdoor trailer from which more than three kilos of heroin were stolen in 2011 under the leadership of his opponent.
“The Will County Sheriff's Department should be a major force in solving the heroin epidemic,” Kelley said. “We shouldn't be contributing to the crisis by allowing large amounts of this dangerous drug to walk out of one of our own evidence storage trailers.”
Kelley joined the Will County Sheriff's Department in 1988. He has worked in virtually every division within the Department throughout his career. He served as a patrol sergeant, as a Will County State's Attorney's Office investigator, in the Fugitive Warrants Division, as a deputy providing security in the Will County Courthouse and as a deputy in the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
“I believe that we have the finest personnel in the nation working in our department, and they deserve an effective leader who has their back and will provide them with the tools they need to protect and serve
everyone in our community.”
Kelley also highlighted his background as a local elected official. He currently serves as a Lockport Township Trustee, and he also served as a Lockport City Alderman as well as the Lockport Township Collector. This background has provided him with the experience and knowledge necessary to work with other government leaders and to manage the Sheriff's Department responsibly in difficult financial times.
A candidates night for the Will County Correctional Supervisors Fraternal Order of Police Union is scheduled for August 12, 2014 with Sheriff's Candidates Mike Kelley and Ken Kaupas. “I am confident that the Supervisor's at the Will County Adult Detention Facility recognize the need for new leadership and I will receive this Union Endorsement as well.”
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