Dan Jungles believes that his decades of experience with the Will County Sheriff’s Office makes him the ideal person for the position of Will County Sheriff.
A life-long resident of Will County, the 51-year-old father of two teen-aged children said he’s dedicated to making the Sherifs department more transparent.
“I can trace my family’s roots all the way back to when the county was first formed in 1836,” Jungles proudly proclaimed.
A resident of Homer Township, Jungles attended Lockport Township High School before going to Joliet Junior College. From there, he transferred to Western Illinois University, where he received a degree in Law Enforcement.
Jungles is also a Graduate of the FBI Academy, which he attended a few years ago.
“I graduated from college with honors,” Jungles recalled. “After applying with several police agencies, I landed at the Will County Sheriff’s Department, where I have served for the past 27 years.
Currently acting as the department’s Undersheriff, Jungles says that service in the department is in his blood.
“My Dad was an Auxiliary Deputy with the department more than 50 years ago. I can remember seeing him in his uniform and that made a lasting impression on me. “
Jungles worked his way up through the ranks, serving in virtually every aspect of the department’s vast responsibilities.
“My career with the department actually began when I was in college. When I went to Western Illinois, my internship was at the Sheriff’s Department. After I graduated, I started out working in the jails then went to patrol as a Patrol Deputy a couple of years later.
“Ultimately, I became a detective and eventually advanced to the position of Deputy Chief, where I was heavily involved in investigations.”
Jungles was recently named under Sheriff and has been in the position just over a month.
“I believe that every step along my career path has led me to become Sheriff,” Jungles declared.
“I’ve held just about every rank. I’ve also gained administrative experience; managing people, writing grants, creating budgets, staying within budgets, these are all important aspects of the job on a continuing basis.”
He was also the director of the Will County Major Crimes Task Force.
Jungle’s platform is tailored towards making the department more efficient and responsible to the community, while saving the taxpayers money.
Among his proposed initiatives are policies that make the department more transparent, he said.
“There has to be a commitment to transparency,” Jungles explained. “I plan on implementing a policy that requires the public release of all Body Worn Camera (BWC) videos of Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) incidents involving Will County deputies within seven business days of the incident.”
Jungles also plans to prioritize mental health for law enforcement officers.
“Only recently has the topic of mental health within the law enforcement community become a topic of discussion. From my experience as a patrol officer, I know that our people see things on a day-to-day basis that would be traumatizing to the average person. I want to ensure that our law enforcement professionals have the proper tools to help deal with these stressors.” Leveraging new technologies to solve crimes will be another priority.
“As Deputy Chief of Investigations for the past eight years, I’m aware of the need to invest in new and innovative technologies.”
As an administrator within the department, Jungles says he has learned the need for fiscal responsibility. That often involves finding ways to use grant funding to reduce the burden on taxpayers.
“During my tenure as Deputy Chief, I have helped to obtain and write numerous grants,” he explained. “I will continue to utilize funds like this for future programs, services, and equipment.”
The candidate has developed proposals that will save money at every level.
“I would also like to explore the possibility of utilizing an in-house nursing staff of county employees at the Will County Adult Detention Facility (WCADF). We have the potential to cut down on wasted expenses.”
His experience in Will County extends beyond the boundaries of law enforcement. “I’ve been a volunteer with United Way of Will County for more than a decade, and I am a part of their Executive Board.” He also serves on the Reclaim 13 board, an organization that provides healing pathways for young girls who are survivors of abuse and exploitation.
“It’s important to be able to re-acclimate these girls back into society after they’ve been victimized,” Jungles said.
Although the Sheriff’s Department isn’t directly involved in investigating such crimes, larger areas of the county, where there are several hotels and motels, are hotspots where human traffickers set up shop.
Jungles said as Sheriff he would reestablish old ties to State and Federal law enforcement agencies and establish partnerships that will advance practices and programs.
Sheriff Mike Kelly who has endorsed Jungles said, “since being a Deputy Chief, he has revamped already existing programs within the Sheriff’s Office and has added additional programs and partnerships that have enhanced safety throughout Will County.”
“His drive, integrity, and commitment to our community are just some of the reasons why I am supporting him in becoming your next elected Will County Sheriff,” said Kelly.
