Kendall Sheriff's Office Finds Success in 'Fugitive Friday' Initiative

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Friday initiative has turned out to be quite the success.

In 2016, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office set out to tackle a backlog of felony warrants that were unable to be served. Since January 2016, these efforts resulted in a 16 percent reduction of felony warrants, according to the sheriff’s office. The success in the service of these warrants is credited to the warrants coordinator working in cooperation with operations and corrections deputies who assisted in locating and apprehending fugitives.

The reductions in warrants were further aided by social media efforts and a “Fugitive Friday” Facebook posting. Every Friday a fugitive was profiled on the office’s Facebook page. Fugitive Friday’s created an informal partnership with the community that greatly enhanced the success of our program. This initiative resulted in an increase in tips to Crimestoppers. These tips led to numerous arrests and the reduction in the warrant backlog.

The warrants coordinator is also a member of United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The task force concentrates on investigating and apprehending fugitives who are wanted for violent crimes, sex crimes, crimes against children and other serious felony offenses throughout the Chicagoland area.

This program was created under the leadership of Sheriff Dwight Baird. Sheriff Baird would like to remind the citizens of Kendall County to call Crime stoppers regarding fugitive whereabouts. More tips equals more arrest. With your help and information, police can locate more fugitives and take them off the streets decreasing the likelihood of further criminal activity.

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