It is hard to imagine that in just a few short weeks school will be starting and another summer will have come and gone.
This time of year means Little League is ending, MLB is in full swing and Friday night lights will be here in short order.  I have always enjoyed high school sports because it is a learning experience.  Sports teach you what hard work is all about — many learn to thrive in the spirit of competition but most importantly, sports teach us great success can only be accomplished through a collaborative effort. Life works like this, especially at the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office.
Most people do not realize the sheriff’s office has several different groups with a specific job much like a football team. We have the correction division, patrol division, dispatchers, court security and support services. All of these groups function individually but they each rely on one another to complete the mission.
Part of this team concept involves teaching. Much like sports, veterans mentor the younger players and we are fortunate to have a wealth of dedicated long-term employees who truly care about the citizens we represent. Did you know in our patrol division the average length of service is more than 17 years? This team concept doesn’t stop with the badge.
I consider every resident of this county part of our team. How long have you lived here? You see, none of us can make this county a great place to live without each other and we need each other’s expertise.  

We have several different community events coming up before the end of summer and two of them are our first annual National Night Out and the Ogle County Fair.
National Night Out will be held Aug. 1 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on the court house square. This event is an opportunity for young and old to come out and meet our deputies and dispatchers. There will be equipment for the kids climb on, 911 simulators to see how dispatchers provide service and dinner is on us. Also, a law enforcement event wouldn’t be complete without donuts, so Cliff’s Donuts will be providing “power rings.”
The 911 ETSB members and I will be presenting a 4-year-old with the 911 Hero Award. This young girl called 911 when her mother fell ill and was unconscious.  With the help of an Ogle County 911 dispatcher the little girl provided an address which allowed EMS to provide assistance. Please make sure you mark this event on your calendar and plan to attend.
The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, 911 ETSB and Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management will again have tent at the Ogle County Fair Aug. 2-6.  On Friday, Aug. 4, the Illinois State Police will also have their roll over simulator on display to address the importance of wearing seatbelts.  
I attended a civic organization this past week and one of the questions asked was, “What do you see as the greatest problem for the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office in the next year?” I immediately knew the answer because we talk about it on a daily basis — that is staffing. As I sit here today I look at the map of my where our deputies are — Ogle County is 758 square miles and the Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement jurisdiction for more than 30,000 residents — and see three deputies patrolling our township, county and interstate roads, and responding to life and death emergency situations. As we move to adopt a new budget, talks have included reducing these numbers. To me that is not only unacceptable but reckless on their part.
I would encourage you to be part of the team, and fight alongside us to make sure we do not become a community like those just few miles to north or a few miles to east of this great county.

Brian VanVickle is the Ogle County Sheriff