About the Bureau Country Sheriffs Office
The Bureau County Sheriff's Office is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of residents of Bureau County and responding to public concerns in a manner which promotes communities and neighborhoods free from the fear of crime.
The Bureau County Sheriff's Office employs a strategy for accomplishing its mission by preserving the peace, preventing crime, apprehending offenders, facilitating problem solving community partnerships, enforcing laws, providing secure and humane detention for persons lawfully entrusted to our care and displaying empathy and respect for the dignity of all individuals.
In order to effectively serve the county, the Bureau County Sheriff's Office employs a force of 37 sworn deputies and support personnel, consisting of 18 patrol deputies, covering the county's 875 square miles, and 13 corrections deputies, safely managing the inmate population housed in the County Jail.
The Office of Sheriff
Sheriff James Reed is a lifelong resident of Bureau County. Reed was born in Spring Valley and grew up in Ladd. Reed is a graduate of Hall High School in Spring Valley and the Illinois Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in Champaign.
Sheriff Reed began his law enforcement career in 1990 as a patrolman for the Village of Ladd. Reed also worked part-time for the City of Princeton. Reed began his career at the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 under then Sheriff Jack Narczewski. Throughout his career, Reed has become familiar with every aspect of the Sheriff’s office. Reed has served the Sheriff’s office for the last 25 years as a radio operator, corrections officer, courthouse security officer, field deputy, investigator, firearms instructor, sergeant for patrol, and Sheriff. He is a certified Master Firearms Instructor through the Illinois Police Training Institute and a certified FBI Firearms Instructor.
In 2002 Reed was assigned to the Illinois State Police District 17/Zone 3 Task Force, a multiple jurisdiction task force responsible for investigating narcotics related crimes in the tri-county area. During his assignment there, Reed assisted in several hundred narcotics cases and arrests in Bureau, LaSalle, and Putnam counties. During that assignment, Reed was presented the Illinois State Police Meg Directors and Task Force Commanders Association award as the case agent for an investigation that resulted in a large seizure of cocaine.
Reed was elected Bureau County Sheriff in 2014. Reed pledges to consolidate the efforts of law enforcement entities within the county to be more efficient in investigating and solving crimes. Reed is working closely with the County Board to improve radio communications and update equipment for the safety of the deputies and residents, without being a burden to the taxpayers. His top priorities are to improve and expand efforts in combating the current drug issues in our community and provide a proactive and progressive service of law enforcement to the citizens of Bureau County.
“I believe the residents of Bureau County should be able to feel secure about their personal safety and property, and it is our responsibility as a Sheriff’s Office to promote that sense of security.” -Sheriff Jim Reed
Chief Deputy Bret Taylor
Chief Deputy Bret Taylor was born in Sterling, Illinois, and grew up in Wyanet. He is a graduate of Wyanet High School, the United States Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan Alabama, and the Illinois Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in Champaign.
After high school graduation he entered the United States Army. He served three years in the Military Police Corp., Fort Carson, Colorado. He deployed with his unit to Honduras, Central America, and was part of Joint Security Forces (Joint Task Force Bravo). After deployment he finished his tour as the Military Police Liaison with civilian law enforcement. He also spent 2 additional years in the United States Army Reserve and was deployed to the Philippines as part of a joint security team.
Chief Deputy Taylor began his civilian Law Enforcement career in 1988 assigned as a Field Deputy under former Sheriff Jack Narczewski. He has served the Sheriff’s Office for the last 31 years as a Field Deputy, Investigator, Drug Task Force Agent, Patrol Sergeant, Operations Lieutenant, and Chief Deputy.
In 1995, he was assigned to the Illinois State Police District 17 Drug Task Force, a multiple jurisdiction task force responsible for investigating narcotics in the tri-county area. During his assignment there, he assisted in numerous narcotics cases and arrests in Bureau, LaSalle, and Putnam Counties. During that assignment Taylor was presented with the Illinois M.E.G. Directors and Task Force Commanders Association award for his involvement in the investigation of a major cocaine distribution network in the LaSalle County area. Taylor was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Drug Enforcement Agency and a Letter of Appreciation from the United States Attorney Southern District of New York for his involvement in a major cocaine trafficking investigation. Taylor is a certified instructor in the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) through the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University.
Taylor was appointed to Chief Deputy, under Sheriff James Reed in 2014. His top priorities are to update equipment for the safety of the deputies and citizens of Bureau County, continue to improve efforts in combating drug issues in our communities, and continue to work with the school districts of Bureau County in the area of school security and safety.
K9 Team
Currently, the Bureau County Sheriff's Office has a single K9 team consisting of a male German Shepherd, Palu and his handler, Deputy Mackenzie Kruse. They are certified for narcotic detection and trained for patrol applications. Our K9 team completes an annual Police Canine Narcotics Detection requalification test as mandated by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board (ILETSB). Along with detection training, the team is also trained in human tracking, article and building searches, criminal apprehension and handler protection. Our K9 team works alongside patrol deputies daily while providing assistance with the needs and requests of the other units within the Department.
The mission of the K9 Unit is to support all law enforcement activity and Bureau County. This support is a force multiplier which assists in the apprehension of fleeing criminals, warrant searches, building and area searches, search and rescue, pursuits, illegal drug eradication, along with assisting patrol deputies with in-progress calls for service. Aside from their law enforcement duties, the K9 team visits schools, churches, and businesses to give demonstrations of their canine’s abilities and to educate and give the public a better understanding of what the team is utilized for.
Illinois Valley Special Response Team (SRT)
In the event of high-risk situations outside the realm of normal police operations, such as serving felony/search warrants or responding to active hostile individuals, Bureau County Deputies along with those from neighboring Putnam County and the Princeton Police Department form the Illinois Valley Special Response Team (SRT).
This specialized, 25 officer unit undergoes intense training year around in order to develop the unique skill-sets required and employ the special tools needed to effectively and safely respond to a wide assortment of the most dangerous law enforcement duties.