Getting to Know
Patrick Jones
Background & Inspiration:
• Grew up on the South Side of Chicago; Will County resident for 26 years.
• Childhood encounter with police misconduct inspired him to pursue law enforcement, vowing to police with fairness and respect.
Law Enforcement Career:
• Joined the WC Sheriff’s Office in 2001.
• Emergency Response Team (ERT) member since 2002.
• Attended Illinois State Police Academy in 2009.
• Career assignments: multiple midnight shifts (2009–2012), Central (6 years), CSI (2018–2021), Sergeant roles in various shifts and zones (2018–present).
Specialized Training & Units:
• SWAT operator since 2012; trained in Basic & Advanced SWAT, sniper-certified, Assistant Team Leader for Crisis Negotiation Team.
• CSI officer (2018); trained in blood spatter analysis, CSI I & II, latent prints.
• Negotiator: joined to de-escalate crises, first point of contact in high-stress incidents.
Leadership & Service:
• Promoted to Sergeant to serve in a command role; led during more than 40 major incidents including shootings and armed negotiations.
• Awarded multiple commendations:
o 2007 Life Saving Award (Heimlich maneuver)
o 2009 Life Saving Award (rescued driver from burning vehicle)
o 2019 Meritorious Award (ambushed by gunfire)
o 20-Year Distinguished Service Award
Critical Incident:
• During a major shooting, deputies came under fire and used tactical maneuvers to survive. I became frustrated by lack of follow-up from administration regarding deputies’ mental health.
My Vision for the Sheriff’s Office:
• Sheriff should be active, visible, and transparent in the community.
• Plans to establish jail trade programs to reduce recidivism (funded by inmate welfare funds, not taxpayers).
• Hopes to create a police & corrections academy to generate revenue.
• Aims to equip deputies with better training, tools, and benefits.
• Will launch a police neighborhood unit targeting property crimes and violent crime hot spots.
My name is Patrick Jones, and for more than two decades I have dedicated my life to serving and protecting the people of Will County. My journey into law enforcement began with a promise I made to myself as a child. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, my brother and I experienced a painful encounter with the police when we were just 10 and 11 years old. As we were walking home from church, we were stopped and ordered to open our pants as they shined flashlights inside. When my brother asked why we were being searched, the officer slapped him on the head.
That moment, when we were treated unfairly and without dignity, left a lasting mark on me. I asked God that if I were ever placed in a position of authority, I would serve differently-- with integrity, fairness, and compassion. That promise has guided me every single day of my career.
Will County has been my home for the last 26 years, and in 2001 I began my career with the Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer. A year later, I joined the Emergency Response Team, where I learned to handle high-pressure situations with discipline and skill. My lifelong goal of becoming a police officer pushed me further, and in 2009 I graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy. Over the years, I have worked a variety of assignments, including midnight shifts in different areas of the county. After working as patrol deputy for nine years, in 2018 I became a Crime Scene Investigator and completed several courses at Northwestern University. Each assignment gave me new skills, new challenges, and a deeper connection to the community I serve.
In 2012, I became a SWAT tactical operator, completing both basic and advanced SWAT training, as well as sniper. Today, I am honored to serve as an Assistant Team Leader on the Crisis Negotiation Team, where I’ve seen firsthand how the power of words can prevent tragedy and save lives.
I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2019 which marked a turning point in my career. As a leader, I have overseen teams on some of the most difficult and dangerous calls this office has faced. Leadership is not just about command; it is about protecting those who serve under you, ensuring they have the tools, training, and support they need to succeed, and making sure they return home safely to their families. I take that responsibility with the utmost seriousness.
Throughout my career, I’ve faced danger and adversity, but also moments of pride. I received the Life Saving Award in 2007 for saving a choking person, and again in 2009 for pulling a man from a burning vehicle. In 2019, after surviving an ambush by gunfire while protecting fellow deputies, I was awarded the Meritorious Service Award. I have also been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for 20 years of dedication to this office.
I am running for Sheriff because I believe leadership requires more than wearing a badge—it requires being active, present, and transparent with the community. Too often, the squad cars we drive have become barriers between officers and the public. As Sheriff, I want to break down those barriers by being visible at community events, listening to residents, and ensuring that every decision I make is rooted in truth and transparency.
My priorities include creating trade programs within the jail to reduce recidivism, funded through the inmate welfare fund at no cost to taxpayers. I also want to establish a police and correctional academy that can generate revenue and become a model for other counties. For my fellow officers, I will ensure they have the tools, training, and competitive benefits needed to do their jobs effectively.
I plan to launch a neighborhood policing unit that will focus on crime trends like burglaries, shootings, robberies, and property damage—because protecting our neighborhoods must always be a top priority.
I have spent my entire career serving the people of Will County, and I am ready to lead our Sheriff’s Office into a future that is safer, more transparent, and more connected to the community we serve.
My name is Patrick Jones, and I humbly ask for your support.