DuPage Sheriff Clashes With Conservative Radio Host

BURR RIDGE, IL – A conservative radio show host last month asked to interview DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick for an interview a day after the mass shooting in an unincorporated area near Burr Ridge and Willowbrook.

But the Republican sheriff declined, criticizing the host and calling him a "cop hater."

Patch obtained the text messages between Mendrick and radio show host Dan Proft through a public records request with the Sheriff's Office.

Mendrick responded to Proft a day later.

"You obviously have no comprehension of what an active investigation is," Mendrick said. "Your priorities are sad, and I'm sorry a little air time is more important to you than catching the offenders. Go ahead and add that to your broadcasting."

Proft said he would do so.

"Take the imperious FBI G-man approach rather than communicate to the public what you can. You want to high-hat me? Be my guest," Proft said.

Mendrick said his goal was to catch the suspects in the mass shooting, which authorities said left one person dead and 22 others wounded. He said talking about the investigation lessens the chance of an arrest.

"While you were barbecuing this weekend, we've been working this case," Mendrick said. "Don't talk like (you're) some awesome social warrior."

Proft said he wasn't asking Mendrick to comment on what the Sheriff's Office was doing, adding, "OK, hero. Pound sand."

The sheriff shot back, "Will do cop hater."

"Hilarious," Proft said. "Go try and sell that. You've lost your mind."

Mendrick said it's people like Proft who make it hard to hire new officers because they see how law enforcement is treated.

Proft replied that he made a neutral request for Mendrick to come on the show, but the sheriff responded with "smarm and accusation."

"Spare me your pathetic histrionics," Proft said. "Unpersuasive."

Mendrick asked Proft to lose his number, accusing him of being a harasser.

Proft co-hosts "Chicago's Morning Answer," though he moved to Florida a few years ago.

He draws a devoted conservative following and networks with wealthy donors to Republican campaigns. He also created online newspapers around the state to promote conservative views.

The host, who has interviewed Mendrick before, relayed part of the text exchange on Twitter. He tweeted that he and Mendrick had not had a cross word before.

In January 2021, Proft alleged that Pleasant Dale Park District in Burr Ridge had originally planned to make unvaccinated girls wear street clothes in a basketball league. But he never provided any evidence of such a plan. The district itself denied it.

Asked about his evidence, Proft told a Patch reporter by text message, "F--- off."

Around the same time, Proft blamed the fatal shooting of a police officer in Kankakee County, in part, on the county's Democratic leadership. Yet Republicans have long controlled the county.

Mendrick and Proft did not return Patch's messages for comment.