The race to succeed James Mendrick as sheriff of DuPage County features two candidates with distinct backgrounds and priorities. Mendrick, who opted not to run for a third term, instead seeking the Republican nomination for governor unsuccessfully, will be replaced by either Republican Sean Noonan or Democrat Peter Coolidge.
Noonan, a police officer with the Oakbrook Terrace Police Department and former DuPage County Board member, brings experience from various local law enforcement agencies, including stints in Western Springs, Bloomingdale, and Addison. He describes himself as a reformer, emphasizing the need for new leadership to improve morale and operational efficiency within an office authorized to have up to 505 employees. Noonan cited concerns about employee burnout and slower response times linked to staffing shortages. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration with municipal police departments. Notably, he secured the Republican nomination by defeating Undersheriff Eddie Moore, who was backed by Mendrick.
On the Democratic ticket, Peter Coolidge is a retired DuPage County deputy with nearly 28 years of service in the sheriff’s office before retiring in 2024. His career encompassed work in corrections, law enforcement, and court security. Coolidge underscored the erosion of public trust in law enforcement and proposed measures to rebuild that relationship. He stressed the need for responsible use of license-plate reader technology and called for adequate resources and compensation for officers, including enhanced mental health support. Coolidge also advocates for expanded mental health services aimed at individuals experiencing crises, prioritizing alternatives to arrest and incarceration.
Gun violence prevention is a key focus for Coolidge, who intends to broaden free gun-safety and safe-storage training programs. He also supports the formation of specialized units to address domestic and sexual violence more effectively.
Both candidates expressed support for the sheriff’s office’s collaboration with JUST of DuPage, an organization providing educational, therapeutic, and spiritual programming for individuals detained in the county jail. The sheriff’s office is responsible for patrolling and investigating crimes in unincorporated areas, managing the county jail, securing courthouses, serving legal documents, conducting judicial sales such as foreclosures, overseeing evictions, and operating a forensics laboratory.
The upcoming election will determine which candidate will lead the sheriff’s office in addressing staffing challenges, community relations, and public safety initiatives going forward.