To the Editor:
Recent letters to the editor appearing in the Community News Brief (February 13 edition) have corrected some serious misstatements about Sheriff Nick Petitgout. There are a few other points worth considering about Sheriff Petitgout.
Family Members in County Government? There is an important, but often overlooked statute in Illinois law that states, “The sheriff shall direct the county treasurer to pay, and the treasurer shall pay, the expenditures for the sheriff's office, including payments for personal services, equipment, materials and contractual services.” (55 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/3-6018, from Ch. 34, par. 3-6018).
Generally, this statute presents no inherent conflicts of interest, but if retired Illinois State Trooper Joe Moon were to be elected, it would mean that he would be directing his relative (whether by marriage or blood) McDonough County Treasurer Dana Moon to pay those expenses. This is not an accusation or suggestion of wrongdoing, but the fact is the optics would be terrible, at best.
The Voice of Experience. Having heard and read comments from Sheriff Petitgout and retired Trooper Moon in several public forums, I find a clear difference in what they are saying. Mr. Moon presents an outsider’s views of problems in the Sheriff’s Department, and most of those comments are long on insinuations and accusations and short on any workable solutions. In sharp contrast, Sheriff Petitgout’s comments provide tangible details on his workable plans to continue managing the department and the county jail. Those comments also include continuing his efforts in modernizing communications, strengthening community outreach programs, implementing technology (including body cameras), and more. His 20+ years as a law enforcement officer (including detective, chief deputy, and sheriff) in McDonough County give him both “boots on the ground” perspectives and management experience that simply cannot be replicated by someone stepping into the position without those experiences.
Giving Back to the Community. Another point is related to Sheriff Petitgout’s volunteer activities. For the community at large, the sheriff has served on the YMCA Board of McDonough County, the American Legion Post 6 in Macomb, and has recently applied for a position on the Bridgeway Board, which supports Macomb residents with disabilities and other life challenges. He also is active with the Spoon River Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 427 and the Electronic Telephone Systems Board as chair, and as past-president of the Illinois Sheriffs Association. I find this involvement with the ISA to be especially valuable because it puts him in direct contact with sheriffs in 102 counties throughout the state. Building relationships among sheriffs allows them to share best practices and work toward common goals of improving their departments and communities. That strength in numbers directly benefits the residents of McDonough County.
Considering these points, plus the well-stated comments in recent letters to the editor from respected citizens Gwynne Worthington, Travis Hiel, and Jim Percy, all lead to the most important point of all: Nick Petitgout is the right choice for Sheriff of McDonough County.
Bill Davenport Macomb, Illinois
