Biography for Sheriff Patrick Perez
September 2009
Sheriff Patrick Perez, age 53, is a lifelong resident of Kane County, Illinois. He comes from a law enforcement and public safety family with more than seventy-five years experience, including his late father, Pete Perez, who served as an Aurora Police Officer and as Kane County Undersheriff. Sheriff Perez is married to wife Terrie, father of sons Stephan, 23, and Gabe, 20.
Starting his law enforcement career in 1992, Sheriff Perez joined the Kane County Sheriff’s Department. Throughout the years, he achieved the rank of Sergeant while serving as Supervisor of the Special Operations Unit, as a member of the Gang and Drug Enforcement Unit, Supervisor of Patrol Division, Supervisor of the Investigations Division, Supervisor of the Civil Division, and a member of the Illinois Attorney General’s Gang Task Force. In 1998, Sheriff Perez was nominated for the Kane County Officer of the Year award. He has twice received Meritorious Service Awards and also received a Leadership Award. In 2004, Sheriff Perez received the RedCross Hometown Heroes Award. In 2008, Sheriff Perez received the HISLEA Hector Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also involved in a joint FBI/Kane County 1,250 pound marijuana bust, the largest in Department history.
Sworn in as Kane County Sheriff on December 1, 2006, Sheriff Perez raised accountability in the Kane County Jail, reduced lawsuits against personnel/agency, and expanded outreach services. He has established mandatory random drug testing for deputies, redeployed personnel to place more deputies on the street, and expanded community policing and outreach to the community. Sheriff Perez has also implemented a full time crime analyst, resulting in a much more proactive approach to law enforcement and reduction in crime. Sheriff Perez is a 2007 graduate of the Southern Police Institute Chief Executive Leadership class and National Sheriff’s Institute Class of 2007.
Sheriff Perez successfully spearheaded the move of the Sheriff’s Department and Jail in August of 2008, including 511 inmates without incident. This effort also involved 320 employees being relocated without interruption of service to the public.
Sheriff Perez is past coach and co-founder, and board member of Aurora Superstars Youth Tackle Football, now in its 11th year. The league provides guidance for youths ages eight through twelve and has grown from 200 to nearly 400 participants. Sheriff Perez also serves as Co-Chairman of the CASA Kane County Advisory Committee and as a member of the Batavia Rotary Club. Sheriff Perez has recently been appointed as fundraising co-chair for Fox Valley United Way for 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 as well as being appointed by the Governor’s Office to the Juvenile Advisory Board and Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Sheriff Perez founded the Sheriff’s Annual Car Show raising over $21,000 for the first three recipients, Easter Seals, Disabled American Veterans, and the Daniel P. Figgins Memorial Foundation. Sheriff Perez will be serving as the Honorary Christmas Chairman for the St. Charles Chapter of the St. Charles Salvation Army this year.