Shelby, Co.  (ECWd) –

Shelby County Sheriff Don Koonce has submitted his resignation letter to the Shelby County Board Chairman with an effective date of June 25, 2021.

“Please allow this letter to serve as my official notification that I will be retiring and resigning my Office as Sheriff of Shelby County on June 25, 2021. This decision was not an easy one for me to make, but reaffirmed by the imminent change in police reform. It is my hope that Illinois legislators dive deep into this reform, and make sweeping changes. The safety of the public is at risk.”

Koonce cites police reform as his reaffirmation to retire, however, Koonce faced a criminal investigation by the Illinois State Police regarding illegal gun sales and alleged payroll fraud.  That investigation was completed and turned over to the Attorney General for a charging decision in December of 2020.

A copy of the resignation letter can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.

Sheriff Koonce resignation letter