John D. Idleburg was sworn into office on December 1, 2018, taking over the largest law
enforcement agency in Lake County with over 500 sworn and civilian personnel.
Sheriff Idleburg was born and raised on the south side of Chicago until his family moved to Zion,
Illinois when he was a teenager. He graduated from Zion-Benton High School, served in the
United States Marine Corps, and returned to work as a Deputy Sheriff at the Lake County
Sheriff’s Office. Thereafter, Sheriff Idleburg moved on to work at the Great Lakes Police
Department as a Detective, Special Investigator with the Department of Defense, and Special
Agent with the United States Treasury Department where he retired after 32 years of
government service.
John D. Idleburg ran on a campaign that prioritized school safety, advocated for mental health
and substance abuse disorder prevention, and strengthened law enforcement-community
relationships. Since being elected, Sheriff Idleburg made his campaign promises reality by
leading the Safety and Justice Challenge, which provides direct support to jurisdictions looking
at jail population drivers receiving $1.7 million in funding support, leveraging technology to
increase accessibility to Lake County residents, capitalizing on programs that assist those in
mental crisis, leading enforcement efforts targeting drug traffickers and human traffickers,
providing those incarcerated with necessary skills to be successful when they reenter society, all
while strengthening relationships with the community he serves. Served on PSAC 2020-2025