Both candidates for Knox County Sheriff, David Clague and Kip Canfield sat down with WGIL before the upcoming election. The two talked challenges, priorities and successes. When he was first appointed to the position of Sheriff, Clague said had a $4 million budget that was overdue, negotiation talks with three unions, and was six months away from a primary. Clague said any job where your boss could potentially be replaced every four years is challenging. He said the negotiations helped – it gave members a sense of where he was coming from and everyone was onboard within 18 months. Another success Clague is proud of is the cooperation of local municipalities in the county. He said if the need arises, departments in Knoxville, Galesburg, Abingdon and Williamsfield are quick to answer the call for man power. As far as priorities, the Sheriff said, to “continue making Knox County a safe place to live and raise children and travel freely without problems.” Clague sits on several enforcement and law boards and committees in Springfield – so another priority is training. “I believe so strongly in the training, that I have been the past chairman of the mobile training unit which covered Knox County,” Clague said. “Now, Governor Rauner has appointed me to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board which mandates the training. So, training is the backbone of every organization.”
When asked why you should vote for him, Sheriff David Clague says he’s a proven leader; has 45 years of law enforcement experience: from counter terrorism to drug enforcement; and he has 12 year of experience being the Knox County Sheriff. Clague said the biggest crime-related challenges for the Sheriff’s office are guns, narcotics, and online cyber crime.
He says often times the guns and narcotics go hand-in-hand. The Knox County Sheriff’s department has a dedicated investigator looking into online crime daily – and there’s enough work for three or four investigators. Clague says he often times is questioned about being on patrol versus administrative duties. The Sheriff said that every committee that he sits on is a direct reflection of the community. “They have another voice,” He said. “Whether it’s making of the law or interpretation of the law through me – not just through Representatives and Senators. The 911 Oversight Committee in Springfield (for example) appointed by the Governor four years ago. How important is that to Knox County? It’s very important. At the time, that law was sun-setting. A new law had to be developed, and we developed.”
WGIL will have a follow-up story on challenger Kip Canfield of Galesburg later this week.
