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Internship Program
This internship is open to students completing their Criminal Justice Bachelors Degree. The internship is based upon application and availability of internship openings. Preference is given to McHenry County residents.
Interns work in each area of the Sheriff’s departments at some period of their internship period. The majority of the time will be in the patrol or Criminal Investigation Division. Interns will be present during all aspects of the deputy’s duties. This may be accident investigation, traffic enforcement, criminal investigation enforcement, warrant service or preventive patrol. Depending on the confidence level "earned" by the intern, the intern may be given actual duties within the division.
The intern will observe deputies on all assignments except some situations where the intern may be placed in jeopardy due to being an unarmed observer. After a dangerous situation stabilizes, the intern will then be introduced into the event.
Interns will be required to ride on each of the three shifts to see the differences in duties from shift to shift. The intern will assist deputies in various duties throughout their program here. The intern may be invited to go along on interviews and assist in many aspects of the Criminal Investigations Division. The duties vary from week to week. Often the interns assist on case work such as burglary and witness interviews, evidence collection, etc. At some time during internship, the intern will be taken to the Coroner’s office to view an autopsy.
The intern will work in the 911 Center, Records Division, Civil Process Division, Evidence room (including trips to the crime labs), Court Security Division, Corrections Division, and depending on the season, a stint with the Marine Division. Due to the sensitivity and nature of the investigations involved, working with the Gangs Unit and Narcotics Division are dependant upon the nature of the investigation and the confidentiality involved.
For more information, please contact our Internship Coordinator, LT James Wagner at 815-338-2145.
Radar Trailers
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has six radar trailers, which were obtained totally through grant money. These radar trailers have proven to be a valuable tool in the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office fight to reduce traffic crashes. These trailers are placed in areas where there have been continued complaints of speed violations.
Radar trailers show the speed of the approaching vehicle. The speed of the approaching auto is displayed which hopefully may remind an otherwise safe driver to check their speed and obey the posted speed limit. Some of these trailers are utilized by the seventeen McHenry County townships for use in individual problem areas.
McHenry County citizens can request a trailer be placed in their neighborhood on a case by case situation. For more information, call the Sheriff's Office at (815) 338-2144 during county business hours or e-mail us at sheriff@co.mchenry.il.us. Please include a daytime telephone number and details of the request.
Policy
A Warning From Sheriff Nygren Regarding Telephone Solicitations
Telephone solicitors may call asking for donations, in which they may make statements indicating that the funds will benefit the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department drug efforts, K-9 unit, or other police programs. In reality, none of the money you donate will benefit or be donated to the Sheriff’s Department.
These solicitations sometimes are made on behalf of Fraternal Police Organizations, which have names that sound similar to and include the "McHenry County Sheriff " in their title. Although similar sounding titles are not illegal, some people may be confused or misled when they hear a fast talking telemarketer.
Resist the impulse to donate over the telephone. Never give out confidential information such as credit card numbers or bank information over the telephone.
And remember …..The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department NEVER solicits donations, for any reason, over the telephone.
McHenry County Sheriff's Patch
The new McHenry County Sheriff’s Office shoulder patch was designed March 2001 by Joel Tippins, a student from Marengo High School. Sheriff Keith Nygren, in an effort to search for an image that best portrays one of the fastest growing counties in Illinois, sponsored a county-wide uniform patch design contest.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department was established in 1837. Two years later in 1839 the county was divided into two, the eastern portion was named Lake County. Despite the split, the Sheriff’s uniform shoulder patch for both counties remained similar in shape, size and style until 2001.
The new uniform patch represents the progress of the McHenry County community.
The red square honors the men and women of McHenry County who have served in the military and sacrificed for our country.
The blue star inside the red square honors our law enforcement officers.
The blue square with a wave symbolizes the Fox River, which has played a significant part in our County’s growth since 1837.
The green square with a crop symbol is for our rich agricultural history.
The silver square with buildings represents our County’s more recent and future achievements in industry.
The 17 blue stars within the gold circle represent the 17 townships in McHenry County.