DuPage Undersheriff Eddie Moore is back on duty after the sheriff hopeful was briefly placed on administrative leave weeks before the March primary as he faced investigation.
The DuPage County sheriff’s office last week confirmed Moore was on leave amid an investigation into allegations that the undersheriff hit a pedestrian outside of an Oak Brook restaurant and left the scene without contacting authorities in February.
DuPage undersheriff and sheriff hopeful placed on leave less than 2 weeks before March primary
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However, sheriff’s office spokesman Michael Cirolia, in a statement to the Tribune on Wednesday, confirmed the investigation had concluded and that it determined the allegations were unfounded.
“The Oak Brook Police have concluded their investigation in the case, it was reviewed by the DuPage County State’s Attorney and closed by the Office of Professional Standards out of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office,” Cirolia said.
Moore returns to his post as the March 17 primary election — where the undersheriff will be vying to secure the Republican nomination for DuPage sheriff — fast approaches. Moore, the undersheriff since 2020, is seeking the countywide seat as the current officeholder, James Mendrick, sets his sights on the governor’s office. Moore is up for nomination against former DuPage County Board member Sean Noonan.
Since word of his brief leave spread, Moore maintained the allegations against him were born out of politicking.
Moore, in a statement last week, confirmed that he and his wife were at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook last month when, as he pulled his car around to pick his wife up, “an individual stepped in front of my vehicle.” Moore stated that he immediately stopped, exited his car and “repeatedly asked if he needed assistance,” but the man declined. Moore said his wife, a nurse, also checked on the man, but he again declined medical help.
“We exchanged information and handled the situation responsibly at the scene,” Moore said. However, the man later asked the Oak Brook Police Department for assistance locating Moore after he “mistakenly wrote down the wrong phone number,” Moore said.
Cirolia, in his statement Wednesday, said the investigation found Moore “did not leave the scene of an accident, but instead the pedestrian refused any and all assistance.” All investigative agencies determined that “no criminal or traffic offenses occurred,” he said.
Moore addressed the situation in a post on social media, again asserting political fodder.
“While I respect the importance of accountability and transparency in law enforcement, it is unfortunate that this situation was turned into a political attack before the facts were fully known,” he wrote.
Noonan in a call Wednesday continued to question Moore’s account and voiced concern with his opponent exercising “poor judgment.” Asked about the claims of political theater, Noonan said he didn’t agree and urged accountability.
In a text statement, Noonan continued, “This kind of conduct is reckless and unacceptable for any officer with any amount of time on the job.”
Moore on social media avowed that his “commitment to this community, to public safety, and to the men and women of law enforcement has never wavered.”
He said he will continue to run for DuPage sheriff.
“Now that this matter has been resolved,” he wrote, “my focus remains exactly where it should be, keeping DuPage County safe and continuing the work of the Sheriff’s Office with professionalism, integrity, and accountability.”