Sheriff's Office to Join US Marshals Task Force

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the United States Marshal’s Great Lakes Region Task Force, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

The US Marshal’s Task Force is comprised of Chicagoland police officers and deputy sheriffs, assigned full time from their respective agencies to work with federal agents with the US Marshal’s. Their primary function is the apprehension of violent criminal offenders with active warrants. Deputies and officers assigned to the US Marshals are given full special agent status, allowing them to travel anywhere within the US Marshals jurisdiction, though they primarily operate in the great lakes region.

“Oftentimes the most violent of offenders are the most likely to flee apprehension,” said Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird. “By participating in this task force, we have the ability to utilize the task force in its entirety, ensuring violent and dangerous offenders are taken off the streets of Kendall County quickly, and safely, with zero impact to our day to day patrol and investigations manpower.”

The US Marshals have many more resources available, and are uniquely equipped and trained in locating and apprehending violent and dangerous offenders. Additionally, this service comes at no additional cost to the Kendall County tax payers.

“It has always been my goal to evaluate and take part in cost effective measures to ensure that the citizens of Kendall County are provided with the highest level of service from its law enforcement,” Sheriff Baird said.

The ability to utilize the US Marshal’s task force also positively impacts the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Having the ability to quickly apprehend those offenders who pose the highest risk or danger to society is very important”, said Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis. “I want to commend Sheriff Baird and his office for working together with the State’s Attorney’s Office to address this area of concern. I believe that this program is another example of how government entities can share resources to benefit our community as well as taxpayers. Getting violent offenders off our streets is a win for everyone.”