For more than seven years after his election as Kane County sheriff in 2018, Ron Hain was among the most accessible, outgoing and public-facing figures in suburban law enforcement.
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That came to an abrupt end this spring, when Hain vanished from the public eye.
Months later, the circumstances of Hain’s ongoing absence from the sheriff’s office remain shrouded in mystery.
On April 10, members of the sheriff’s office received a memo from Hain’s second-in-command, Undersheriff Amy Johnson, addressing “recent rumors regarding the sheriff’s health.”
The five-sentence memo, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, states Hain was in the hospital, asks staff to respect his family’s privacy and promises updates “as appropriate.”
Since then, there’s been no public explanation for Hain’s leave. And little else has been said behind the scenes, according to sources.
Several attempts have been made in recent weeks to contact Hain by phone and via family members, but there has been no response.
After Johnson was contacted Thursday seeking clarification of Hain’s situation, State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser responded: “By law and policy, we are not able to publicly disclose details related to personnel matters, including whether or not a person is on a leave of absence.
“The sheriff’s office and this office remain fully focused on our shared mission of keeping the people of Kane County safe. That work continues without interruption and at full strength, and I have complete confidence in the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and its leadership,” she said.
Hain, of Elburn, isn’t seeking reelection to what would be a third term. Johnson is running as the Democratic nominee to replace him in the Nov. 3 election.
When the issue of Hain’s absence came up at a recent county board meeting, Mosser said it would be illegal for her to provide any information.
“I’m not going to talk about what’s going on with the sheriff. That’s nobody’s business; that is a violation of the law,” Mosser said, adding that she works with the sheriff’s office daily and has not experienced any problems.
At another recent county board meeting, it was Johnson responding to questions about budget overruns in the sheriff’s office.
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Several county board members contacted for comment echoed Mosser’s comments about the sheriff’s office operating as they expect. They also declined to answer questions about Hain’s whereabouts.
“I want to make sure that my constituents are safe and that they are getting the services they expect from the sheriff’s department,” board member Jon Gripe said. “And from what I can tell, they are.”
Among those hoping for more information is former Kane County Coroner Rob Russell, now the Republican candidate for sheriff. In a July 8 Facebook post, Russell asked for prayers for Hain and his family and on Thursday said he considers Hain a friend, noting they worked closely together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While he hasn’t seen anything to indicate a cover-up, Russell said the public should expect more clarity from their sheriff’s office.
“I don’t think we need intricate details, and our hearts and minds should be with the sheriff and hoping he gets better,” Russell said.
“But I think the citizens need to know a little bit, and the sheriff’s office needs to be more transparent without violating anyone’s privacy,” he said. “I think that’s achievable. I don’t think the answer is to just shut it down.”
Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas are reporters for the Daily Herald.
Daily Herald freelance reporter Alicia Fabbre contributed to this report.