Kevin Williams touts education, experience
Courier News, October 16, 2006
Courier News, October 16, 2006
GENEVA -- Kevin Williams is the kind of guy who always accomplishes his goals. He always dreamed of being a police officer. His career path, though, did not lead him directly to law enforcement. Williams, 47, spent six years as a firefighter. He worked in construction. He was an auxiliary Batavia police officer. And a Kane County correctional officer.
He became a Kane County sheriff's deputy in 1993.
"I never gave up on my dream," said Williams, now a lieutenant.
Williams has set a new goal -- becoming Kane County's next sheriff.
As a self-described "regular guy," Williams does not see himself as a politician. But he has taken on the role of political candidate with enthusiasm. And he is getting comfortable with the role. He has spent months traveling all around the county, knocking on doors, talking to people and attending candidate forums.
"I'm finding out people in municipal areas don't know they are supposed to vote for the sheriff," he said.
"I never gave up on my dream," said Williams, now a lieutenant.
Williams has set a new goal -- becoming Kane County's next sheriff.
As a self-described "regular guy," Williams does not see himself as a politician. But he has taken on the role of political candidate with enthusiasm. And he is getting comfortable with the role. He has spent months traveling all around the county, knocking on doors, talking to people and attending candidate forums.
"I'm finding out people in municipal areas don't know they are supposed to vote for the sheriff," he said.
Williams has found himself explaining the different aspects of the sheriff's office. What people talk to him about focuses on gang crimes and keeping children safe, he said.
His answers to those questions: improve gang intelligence gathering and launch technology aimed at providing information to parents about sexual predators.
He is proposing the creation of a Gang Intelligence and Narcotics Tracking program to help police collect and share data about gang members. Williams feels the sharing of real-time information is a key to effective gang violence and drug suppression.
The county is the perfect agency to spearhead the program because the information, including photos of tattoos and graffiti, can be gathered at the jail, which is fertile ground for gangs, he said.
His answers to those questions: improve gang intelligence gathering and launch technology aimed at providing information to parents about sexual predators.
He is proposing the creation of a Gang Intelligence and Narcotics Tracking program to help police collect and share data about gang members. Williams feels the sharing of real-time information is a key to effective gang violence and drug suppression.
The county is the perfect agency to spearhead the program because the information, including photos of tattoos and graffiti, can be gathered at the jail, which is fertile ground for gangs, he said.
GIANT will cost about $5,000, and Williams looks to obtain funding from drug forfeitures or federal grants to pay for it.
Additionally, he would introduce an electronic alert system to notify residents when known sex offenders move into their neighborhoods. The program is called the Offender Watch system and employs registration, Web site integration, geographic risk assessments, e-mail notifications and postal card notifications.
He has touted his experience in different facets of the sheriff's office during his campaign against Democrat Pat Perez. He said he currently supervises five sergeants and 20 detectives in the investigations unit. He has worked in the drug unit, juvenile division, and the bomb and arson unit.
Williams has attended the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Schools of Police Staff and Command to obtain more education and went back to college. He is a semester away from earning his bachelor of arts in criminal justice management from Judson College in Elgin. He has taken a break from school during the campaign and plans to return next term.
"With all my experience and education, I know I am the best candidate," Williams said. "I have the best qualifications. I have the comprehensive background to manage the diverse responsibilities of the sheriff's office."
A business strategy he learned from his additional training is empowering employees, he said. As an example, he worked with his colleagues on a plan to restructure the Corrections Department. The three-prong plan is to first create a Corrections Oversight and Assessment Committee of correction and public safety professionals, the judiciary, county board, Sheriff's Merit Commission and citizens. Second, he wants to implement the existing but currently not used retinal scan identification technology to record and track members of the inmate population.
Finally, he wants to restructure and better train the existing officers assigned to the department to ensure each officer is able to safety execute his or her duties, he said.
Additionally, he would introduce an electronic alert system to notify residents when known sex offenders move into their neighborhoods. The program is called the Offender Watch system and employs registration, Web site integration, geographic risk assessments, e-mail notifications and postal card notifications.
He has touted his experience in different facets of the sheriff's office during his campaign against Democrat Pat Perez. He said he currently supervises five sergeants and 20 detectives in the investigations unit. He has worked in the drug unit, juvenile division, and the bomb and arson unit.
Williams has attended the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Schools of Police Staff and Command to obtain more education and went back to college. He is a semester away from earning his bachelor of arts in criminal justice management from Judson College in Elgin. He has taken a break from school during the campaign and plans to return next term.
"With all my experience and education, I know I am the best candidate," Williams said. "I have the best qualifications. I have the comprehensive background to manage the diverse responsibilities of the sheriff's office."
A business strategy he learned from his additional training is empowering employees, he said. As an example, he worked with his colleagues on a plan to restructure the Corrections Department. The three-prong plan is to first create a Corrections Oversight and Assessment Committee of correction and public safety professionals, the judiciary, county board, Sheriff's Merit Commission and citizens. Second, he wants to implement the existing but currently not used retinal scan identification technology to record and track members of the inmate population.
Finally, he wants to restructure and better train the existing officers assigned to the department to ensure each officer is able to safety execute his or her duties, he said.
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