Kankakee Co. to lay off almost half its sheriff's deputies

KANKAKEE, Ill. (WLS) -- Kankakee County is losing almost half of its sheriff's deputies. Thursday night, residents and members of the sheriff's department are learning that 20 deputies are being cut from the force because of budget problems.

The cuts hit hardest in the Kankakee County sheriff's patrol division, and more cuts are expected.

Sheriff's deputy Brian Coash's days as a patrol officer for Kankakee County are now numbered after he became one of 20 lawmen there slated to be laid off.

"It was kind of a surprise to a lot of us because we kind of figured as officers it would be one of the very last things they'd try to cut somewhere," said Coash.

Almost half of the patrol division received formal layoff notices which went out this week after the Kankakee County Board amended the county's budget calling for nearly $2.4 million in cuts.

"To the county board member we may just be a number, we may just be an expense, but to the citizens, there's a human face to it," said Detective Brady Bertrand, FOP Lodge 150.

The union representing the officers has filed a grievance, but board chairman Michael Bossert says there are few other options. He blames the budget woes on a state mandate that allows the Regional Transportation Authority to share in millions of dollars sales tax revenue generated in Kankakee County.

"We are very upset about this and yet we're facing reality that the RTA will not allow us to keep that revenue here and we just have to make plans accordingly," said Bossert.

Also as part of the cost cutting, 20 corrections officers will be let go from the Kankakee County Jail and the old jail will be shut down. Various law enforcement divisions like River Patrol and the Major Crimes Taskforce will be eliminated and sex offender monitoring along with the school bus safety program and the child safety seat program will be discontinued.

The FOP says the cuts will not only mean slower response times and endanger officers who are responsible for patrolling the unincorporated areas in the 640 square miles that make up Kankakee County, but will also put the public at risk, and some longtime Kankakee residents agree.

"It's not safe because sometimes you hear of the shootings in town, and who's going to be there to protect us," said Debra Shearer, Kankakee resident.

The Kankakee County Board members say they're still looking for ways to close this shortfall, but as of now, the layoffs are slated for July 13.