Cook County residents deserve a justice system that prioritizes public safety and ensures that electronic monitoring is properly enforced. Yet Sheriff Tom Dart’s abrupt decision to abandon Cook County’s electronic monitoring program is reckless, irresponsible, and a clear abdication of leadership.

For decades, the sheriff’s office has managed electronic monitoring, utilizing trained Local 700 law enforcement officers to monitor compliance, execute warrants, and handle violations swiftly. Now, the responsibility is being shifted to the Chief Judge’s Adult Probation Department—an agency that lacks sworn law enforcement officers and the ability to make arrests. This transition not only weakens enforcement but also raises serious concerns about how violations will be handled.

“The public needs to understand that electronic monitoring is not just about tracking movements on a screen,” said Anthony McGee, Vice President of Teamsters Local 700. “Our officers assist in executing fugitive warrants, conducting searches, and ensuring compliance. These are essential law enforcement duties that probation officers simply aren’t trained or authorized to perform.”

Under this new structure, probation officers will be required to call local police or the sheriff’s office to make an arrest when a violation occurs. This creates a dangerous delay in response times, increasing risks to public safety and diminishing accountability for offenders.

Moreover, the funding and staffing for this transition remain uncertain. The Adult Probation Department has stated it needs at least 150 new hires, additional office space, and expanded training—yet as of now, only a fraction of the necessary funding has been secured. Without the proper resources, this plan is doomed to fail before it even gets off the ground.

Teamsters Local 700 stands firm in our position that the sheriff’s office should not abandon its role in electronic monitoring. We will be closely monitoring this transition for any violations of our collective bargaining agreement, and we will continue advocating for a system that puts safety first.

The residents of Cook County deserve better than this reckless handoff of responsibility. We urge county officials to reconsider this decision before it’s too late.