To the Editor:
My name is Jeff Connor and I am the assistant Chief of Police at the Granite City Police Department. I started my career in law enforcement at the Granite City Police Department in 1986 and worked my way through the ranks until promoted to my current position. During these years I have had the pleasure to work with John Lakin, while he held several key positions in law enforcement. First as a probation officer with the Madison County Probation Department, then during his 23 years with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and more recently as the Glen Carbon Chief of Police. I have found several attributes that stand out with John, associated with his long career in Law Enforcement.
- Sincere
- Hard Working
- Efficient
- Respectful
- Integrity
- Family Man
- Friend
As the two of us worked our way up the ranks of our departments, we also worked together on the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, both as investigators and commanders. As investigators on the squad, I had the privilege to work as partners with John on many high profile homicides. It was during these times I saw the leadership of John grow to one of the most respected homicide investigators in the St. Louis area. As a deputy commander on the Major Case Squad, John commanded one of the hardest and heartless crimes imaginable; the murder of a police officer. It was the 2009 murder investigation of Centreville Police Lt. Gregory Jonas, which pitted emotions against proper leadership. John was able to maintain his composure during this stressful investigation which led to a swift and professional conclusion in this brutal crime and landed the suspect in jail for the next 53 years.
We in law enforcement see the need for a person of this caliber to head up the largest law enforcement agency in Madison County, and I support John Lakin for Sheriff. The men and women of the Sheriff’s Department deserve a change for the good. They deserve someone who has the attributes that spell out “SHERIFF.” They deserve to have John Lakin as their leader. My vote is for John Lakin and I encourage the people of Madison County to vote for this man.
Jeff Connor, Major and Assistant Chief of Police
Granite City Police Department
Chief Deputy Commander, Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis