Lake County Sheriff Candidate Questionnaire: Roman Buchberger

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Republican Roman Buchberger, a Zion resident with 32 years of law enforcement experience, is running for Lake County sheriff in the Nov. 3 general election.

Buchberger points to his decades in law enforcement and previous police administration experience as qualifications for the office. Among the issues he says should be priorities for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are staffing, community policing and rehabilitation and divergence programs.

Buchberger also said he does not believe Illinois’ SAFE-T Act and elimination of cash bail have been effective. He expressed concerns about the use of automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras, saying he has "great concerns" about the potential for abuse of the technology for government purposes.

On immigration enforcement, Buchberger said the Sheriff’s Office is there to protect citizens’ constitutional rights and keep the peace. He also said he believes the office of sheriff should be nonpartisan in order to maintain integrity.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Below is Buchberger's candidate questionnaire. His answers are published as submitted and have not been edited.

Roman Buchberger

Town of Residence: Zion

Position Sought: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: n/a

Education: Some college (CLC)

Occupation: 32 yrs law enforcement experience

Previous or current elected or appointed office: N/A

Campaign website: www.ElectRoman2026.com

The single most pressing public safety issue facing Lake County is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Staffing, rehabilitation and divergence programs

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Past department & career experience

What experience and qualifications prepare you to serve as Lake County sheriff?

32yrs in law enforcement & previous police administration experience

What changes, if any, would you make to the priorities or operations of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office?

staffing and advancing community policing

How would you approach the Sheriff’s Office budget and staffing while balancing public safety needs with taxpayers' concerns about government spending?

prioritize, promote and advocate for services and programs that mutually benefit the the public and office

Do you think Illinois’ SAFE-T Act and elimination of cash bail have been effective? What impact, positive or negative, have they had on public safety and law enforcement in Lake County?

No. It fails to address 2 larger problems:
#1 financial resource differences between communities
#2 does nothing to help under service/at risk communities to avoid negative law enforcement interaction

What is your position on the use of automated license plate readers, including Flock cameras? What safeguards, if any, should be in place to address privacy and government-surveillance concerns?

I have great concerns on the abuse of that technology for government purpose's

What is your approach to addressing the opioid/fentanyl crisis and illegal drug trafficking in Lake County?

continue to aducate and support welfare communities as work with fellow law enforcement agencies

What should the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s relationship with ICE be, and how would your administration handle requests from federal immigration authorities involving people arrested or detained in Lake County?

the sheriff office is there to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens and to keep the peace

Lake County uses outside investigators to investigate officer-involved shootings, as required under Illinois law. Do you believe the current process provides enough independence and transparency to the public? What, if anything, would you change about how shootings involving sheriff’s deputies are investigated, reviewed and disclosed?

mostly yes

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

the position should be non-partisan in order to maintain integrity