The Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees has taken a moment to thank two retiring local sheriffs for their work ensuring public safety in Waubonsee’s home communities.
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Waubonsee Board of Trustees recognized former Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez and Kendall County Sheriff Richard Randall for their years of public service in local law enforcement.
“The diligent service provided through the years by Sheriff Randall and Sheriff Perez has played a role in helping us at Waubonsee fulfill one of our primary objectives: Providing a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said Dr. Lulu Blacksmith, Director of Governmental and Multicultural Affairs at Waubonsee. “We wish to take this opportunity to thank them for their remarkable contributions and wish them a happy retirement.”
Perez, who had served as Kane County Sheriff since 2006, chose to retire and not pursue another term as sheriff. As a believer in term limits, Perez said he had intended from the start to serve only two terms as Kane County’s top law enforcement official, lest he lose enthusiasm for the job or fall prey to “getting too full of himself.”
His retirement ended 22 years of service at the Sheriff’s Office.
As sheriff, Perez was recognized for numerous accomplishments, including raising accountability at the county jail; reducing lawsuits against sheriff’s office personnel; establishing the sheriff’s office’s Office of Professional Standards; instituting random mandatory drug testing for deputies and other employees; and spearheading the relocation of the sheriff’s office and jail in 2008 to the Kane County Adult Justice Center at the corner of Peck Road and Route 38 in St. Charles.
Randall, who was first elected Kendall County Sheriff in 1986, is retiring as the longest-serving sheriff in Kendall County history. Before his election as sheriff, Randall served as Yorkville’s chief of police from 1979-1986.
Randall earned his associate degree in criminal justice from Waubonsee, and was honored as one of Waubonsee’s “Fabulous Forty” alumni in 2006, as part of the college’s 40th anniversary celebration.
He earned a certificate in criminal justice management from Aurora University and graduated from the FBI National Academy’s Law Enforcement Executive Development program.
In addition to his service as sheriff, Randall also served his community as a member and volunteer captain of the Bristol-Kendall Fire Department; a past president of the Kendall County United Fund; charter member of Yorkville Substance Abuse Via Education; charter sponsor of the Kendall County Criminal Justice Explorer Scouts Post 1155; member of the Yorkville Lions Club; and member of the Kendall County Historical Society.
