WCSO Press Releases

On September 12, 2019 at approximately 3:30pm, the Will County Coroner’s Office received a telephone call from an attorney representing the family of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer who passed away on September 3, 2019. The attorney informed the Coroner’s Office that while going through the doctor’s personal property they discovered what appeared to be fetal remains and requested that the Will County Coroner’s Office provide proper removal. The Coroner’s Office contacted the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Will County Sheriff’s Office regarding the information conveyed by the attorney.

 Will County Sheriff’s Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators and representatives from the Will County Coroner’s Office arrived at an address in unincorporated Will County. Personnel were directed to an area of the property where 2,246 medically preserved fetal remains were located.  The Will County Coroner’s Office took possession of the remains. 

 The family is cooperating fully with this investigation. There is no evidence that any medical procedures were conducted at the property.  This is an ongoing joint effort investigation by the Will County Coroner’s Office, the Will County Sheriff’s Office and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. 

 Further information will be provided when appropriate.      -end-

On 08/30/2019, at approximately 12:34 AM, deputies with the Will County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 219 Riverview Avenue in Unincorporated Lockport Township for a service call of shots fired. 

Upon deputies arriving on scene, they were directed to the backyard of the residence where a woman had been shot by an unknown assailant.  The female victim, age 52, was shot multiple times in her upper torso area and transported to a local area hospital in critical condition.  A search of the area was conducted by deputies and detectives for potential suspects and additional evidence.  The victim was later transported by helicopter to a Chicago area hospital and is receiving treatment for her injuries.  Her current status is listed as stable condition. 

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office have interviewed several potential witnesses, and the investigation is on-going.  The area was processed by Crime Scene Investigators with the Will County Sheriff’s Office and evidence related to this incident will be submitted the crime lab for further analysis. 

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in providing any additional information or details as it relates to this incident.  If you have information you are urged to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit at 815-727-8574, or you can reach out to Crime Stoppers and provide anonymous information at 1-800-323-6734 or online at https://crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/        

DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER! As we gear up to mark the end of summer with Labor Day celebrations throughout the state, the Will County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Illinois State and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to stop drunk, unbuckled, and distracted drivers.

“Our goal is to help ensure that our community’s residents and visitors make it home safely after the party ends,” said Traffic Sergeant Kyle Lakomiak. “We will be out in force to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you will be celebrating, we urge you to plan for a sober ride home. It could be a matter of life and death.”

The traffic safety campaign will begin today, August 16th, and run through the holiday weekend on September 3rd. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign reminding motorists that impaired driving has “Life or Death” consequences. For more information, please visit: www.lifeordeathillinois.com

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The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing plans for July fourth traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers. The safety campaign has already begun and will run through July 8th. "We are asking all residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day safetly," said Traffic Sergeant Kyle Lakomiak. "It's simple: If you're driving, don't drink. Our officers will be out in full force to keep impaired drivers off the roadways."
The Sheriff's Office is joining the Illinois State Police and more than 160 local police departments for the increased statewide enforcement effort. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Click It or Ticket" campaigns are made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Let's make this celebration a great one! Designate a sober driver; don't let friends/family drive under the influence! Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt. Not only is it the law, it's your best defense against an impaired driver.

Happy Fourth of July! Party safely and responsibly!

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The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that a male inmate who had attempted to hang himself in his cell has passed away. The Sheriff’s Office was notified yesterday, around 2:30pm, that the inmate was pronounced deceased at St. Joseph Hospital.

As previously reported, on June 13, 2019 at the Adult Detention Facility, Sheriff’s correctional deputies, medical staff, and the Joliet Fire Department worked together in an attempt to save the inmates life. Through life saving measures, Joliet Fire was able to revive the inmate and transported him to St. Joseph Hospital where he remained in critical condition.

The inmate’s name is not being released at this time. Per state statute, all in-custody inmate deaths must be turned over to an outside law enforcement agency for investigation. Sheriff’s detectives initially took on the investigation, but following the inmates death, the investigation will now be turned over to the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

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The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that it is joining the free Neighbors app by Ring to provide unincorporated Will County residents with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.

Residents can text willcounty to 555888 from their smartphone to download the Neighbors app for free on iOS or Android and use the app to: join their neighborhood, share crime and safety-related videos, photos and text-based posts; and receive real-time safety alerts from their neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team.

This is how you get started:
• Download the app:
Text willcounty to 555888 or visit: https://download.ring.com/willcounty
• Opt in to join your neighborhood.
• Customize the geographic area you want to receive notifications to (users must verify where they are located and cannot participate in other neighborhoods).
• Start receiving real-time alerts as they happen.
• View local crime and safety posts via a live feed or interactive map.
• Share text updates, photos and videos taken on any device, including Ring’s home security devices.
• Work with your community to make neighborhoods safer.

That’s it! It’s that easy! Get involved with your community – be a good neighbor! Let’s work together in making Will County a safer place to live.

For more information visit: www.ring.com/neighbors
Follow us on Facebook at Will County Sheriff's Office (and/or) Will County Sheriff Investigations Division

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