SALINE COUNTY (WSIL) --First responders including law enforcement are there for many people on what they would consider their worst days.
Sometimes it's a thankless job but Saline County Sheriff James "Whipper" Johnson says he plans on being in it for the long haul.
Sheriff Johnson, known to most as Whipper, has worn about every hat in law enforcement.
He's spent 27 years in Saline County from dispatch to a correctional officer, as well as, multiple city police stations taking on many roles.
"At Harrisburg (Police Department) I was just patrol," Whipper remembers. "Then I was a detective assigned to drug enforcement and eventually investigations."
That's until making his way to Harrisburg's Police Chief, but Whipper decided running for sheriff would be a better fit even if it meant a pay cut.
"Typically city councils think that they can run a police department better than a police officer," Whipper recalls. "So a lot of times there's conflict. "
In November 2018, voters elected Whipper as sheriff giving him the ability to make changes that he sees fit.
"We've increased our staff; We've increased the jail numbers," he says. We've increased our vehicles; We had junk vehicles when I started. We now have five brand new vehicles."
Whipper says activity by his eight full-time deputies has also increased because because calls are up. When deputies are not on a call, they're being proactive.
The patrol area is 365 square miles and there are some challenges to overseeing that large of a space such as travel time to a call.
Sometimes a deputy will be finishing up a call on one side of Saline county and then have to rush to the next call on the other side of the county.
"With that back up is further away," he explains."You're out there by yourself more than you would be if you're an Harrisburg officer. They run three guys on a shift."
Whipper says with more to patrol and less pay many deputies in rural areas like Saline County often leave for larger sheriff's offices, city police stations or Illinois State Police.
"You're probably looking at a $10,000 dollar difference the day you walk out the door into Harrisburg P.D.," he explains.
While those who go on to become troopers make even more, but the sheriff can't blame those who decide to make the jump.
"The guys want to do the same work, but they also want to take care of their family the best that they can," Whipper says.
So the question remains: Why do people become and stay deputies in rural counties?
"I want to catch bad guys," Whipper remarks. "I want to take care of these folks, or I want to be a part of the community."
The deputies working for Whipper grew up in Saline County and now protect it, and he's also a local growing up in Harrisburg.
"I like it here," he says. "I have ties here, and I plan to stay here."
Whipper plans to remain in Saline County and hopes that means continuing to protect it as sheriff.
"We're improving things," he adds. "We're doing more out in the communities in terms of law enforcement. So when you do well, you want to keep on going."
The next change that Whipper would like to make is buying body cameras for deputies. However, that's an expensive upgrade as it also requires video editing software and storage space.
