Major Jeff Connor, who currently serves as Madison County Chief Deputy Sheriff, announced that he is running on the Republican ticket for Madison County Sheriff in the 2022 election.
“After much heartfelt consideration with my wife (Elizabeth), family, and friends, I want to serve as your next Sheriff of Madison County,” Conner stated in a press release.
Current Madison County Sheriff John Lakin, a Democrat, previously announced that he will not run for re-election in 2022 with plans to retire.
Connor told the Record that the Sheriff’s Department is a bipartisan office. However, he explained that while he has always been a Republican and has been working in a Democratic office, he believes political affiliation should not be a focus.
“I honestly don’t think this office should be based on your political party, but the law says it is,” he said.
Connor said the sheriff position is one that requires experience.
“I hope that my 35 years of experience and all of the items on my resume are enough,” he said.
Connor will have 36 years of experience in law enforcement at the time of the election. His career began when he first became a police officer with the Granite City Police Department. He now seeks to serve as sheriff with “experience, dedication, transparency.”
“With 35 years of experience in law enforcement and a lifelong resident of Madison County, I believe I am the best qualified and a highly skilled candidate for this elected office,” Connor stated in a press release.
Connor also serves as the Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
He earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University. He also attended the FBI National Academy, session #244, at the FBI campus in Quantico, VA.
He said he plans to utilize the education and experience he learned from the FBI National Academy if elected sheriff.
“One of the many valuable lessons that I learned from my FBI National Academy experience was the importance of interagency cooperation and collaboration,” Connor stated.
Connor said that if elected sheriff, he would continue to work with organizations in opposition to the new controversial criminal justice bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. But he said that because the laws have been passed, the department would still have to adhere to them.
“I believe reforming law enforcement is good,” he said, “but you shouldn’t make it easier for a criminal to commit crime and harder for a law enforcement officer” to enforce laws and protect the public.
House Bill 3653 was signed into law on Feb. 22. Opponents of the bill argue that it makes Illinois less safe.
Connor said he would also continue to work with Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine’s Cross-River Crime Task Force, which was created to focus on crime coming from Missouri.
Connor said they are still exploring what they can and cannot do. They are also determining what the specific issues are and how they can address those issues. As sheriff, he would continue to support those efforts.
“It would be an honor and a privilege to lead the Madison County Sheriff’s Office into the future as your sheriff,” Connor stated.