Is this race the last call for Mike McCoy?

September 18, 2006
By Billy Dennis

Today’s Word on the Street column leads with news that the Peoria County jailers union endorsed Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy’s opponent in the coming election. The writer, Molly Parker, says the generally accepted wisdom is that McCoy is just too popular to lose to challenger Jerry Wolland. Besides, the margin was slim and there were irregularities in the voting. And the deputies endorsed McCoy. So it’s in the bag, right?

I’m not so sure it’s all that certain.

Sure the deputies endorsed McCoy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all are happy with him. I’m hearing there is grumbling that McCoy doesn’t back his deputies strongly enough (especially when criticized during last year’s serial murder investigation) and that he’s more focused on politics than law enforcement. Wolland — a 33 year veteran with the Peoria Police Department — supposedly would be more of a cop than a politician, my source believes.

Also, I’ve heard that McCoy plans to retire before he would have to run for reelection in 2008 2010. He will be able to retire with a full pension from the county. My source also says that should the job of director of the Multi-County MEG unit become available, McCoy will take that job.

Peoria County,Mike McCoy,Jerry Wolland,sheriff

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5 Responses to “ Is this race the last call for Mike McCoy? ”

  1. prego man on September 18, 2006 at 12:52 pm

    Wouldn’t McCoy be up again in 2010, not 2008? I don’t believe that Sheriff is a 2 year term. As for whether or not he would run again, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is now.

  2. Billy Dennis on September 18, 2006 at 12:58 pm

    I found this:

    “Each county shall elect a sheriff, county clerk and treasurer and may elect or appoint a coroner, recorder, assessor, auditor and such other officers as provided by law or by county ordinance. Except as changed pursuant to this Section, elected county officers shall be elected for terms of four years at general elections as provided by law. Any office may be created or eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by countywide referendum. Offices other than sheriff, county clerk and treasurer may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by law. Offices other than sheriff, county clerk, treasurer, coroner, recorder, assessor and auditor may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by county ordinance.”

    So you are right.

  3. Scott J on September 18, 2006 at 8:10 pm

    I have some good friends that are County Police, they are very unhappy with McCoy. There complaint is that he is to popular for the job anymore. Interesting Irony, since that will be probably what gets him re-elected.

  4. RomanII on September 19, 2006 at 5:32 pm

    Let’s be realistic about this-there are always employees who are disgruntled with their bosses,so it is with some deputies and jailers. They can’t have this, they can’t do that, etc., and so they take it out on the boss. Mike McCoy is one of the finest and hardest working sheriffs we have ever had, he has passed over opportunities to go to Springfield as an elected official (anyone seriously think he couldn’t beat Schock or Spears, Koehler or Russell)? He should, and will, win handily in this race for Sheriff, and let’s hope we can hold on to him for four more years.

  5. Silence NoGood on September 19, 2006 at 9:12 pm

    Yeah, I agree. I respect Mr. McCoy for being loyal to Peoria, and he has had several offers, for good reason. He is popular of course, but at the same time he gets the job done.