Use Of Western Springs Cop Uniform Draws Complaint

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A watchdog has filed a complaint against a DuPage County sheriff candidate for wearing a police uniform in his campaign's promotions.

Republican Sean Noonan appears in a Western Springs police uniform on his campaign website and other places.

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For the last year, watchdog Edgar Pal has pointed to other DuPage County candidates, all Democrats, for wearing official name pins to campaign events.

He also filed a complaint against two Democratic sitting judges, alleging they violated the judicial code of conduct by organizing campaign petition efforts alongside non-judicial candidates.

Noonan, who is facing Democrat Peter Coolidge in the November election, no longer works for Western Springs. He is with the Oakbrook Terrace police.

In a Sept. 17 complaint, Pal said Noonan violated the Western Springs code by misappropriating village property for prohibited political activity.

In the photo, Pal noted the Western Springs police logo was visible.

Pal said the uniform and logo are considered the village's property.

He presented a $150 village photography bill from February 2025.

In an interview this week, Noonan said he did not violate the village's code because he no longer works for its police department.

He said that out of respect for the village, he would have his campaign blur the Western Springs police logo. The campaign did so.

"At the end of the day, the sheriff's position is a nonpartisan position," Noonan said.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Pal said in an email that he was grateful that Noonan acknowledged the issue, "while so many others have tried to brush off similar complaints and ignore their ethical obligations."

"I am optimistic that this matter should be resolved soon," Pal said.

Selmin Cicek, the village's spokesperson, said the village manager's office conducts an internal investigation for any ethics violation complaint, as required under the personnel manual.

"Depending on the type of complaint, it could be referred to the appropriate external authority for review," Cicek said.

Patch recently published a story about DuPage County settling a lawsuit in which Noonan's opponent, Coolidge, was accused of using excessive force as a sheriff's deputy.