With less than two weeks to go before the March primary, DuPage Undersheriff Eddie Moore — who’s vying to rise the ranks to sheriff — has been placed on administrative leave.
The leave, first reported by the Daily Herald, comes as Moore faces investigation after an auto incident last month that the undersheriff maintains his opponent is leveraging as political fodder.
Moore, the undersheriff since 2020, is running for sheriff as current officeholder, James Mendrick, sets his sights on governor, leaving the countywide seat open. Moore is seeking the Republican nomination in the sheriff’s race against former DuPage County Board member Sean Noonan. The pair will be on the ballot in the March 17 primary election.
Moore, in a statement, confirmed that last month, he and his wife were at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in west suburban Oak Brook when, as he pulled his car around to pick his wife up, “an individual stepped in front of my vehicle.” Moore stated that he immediately stopped, exited his car and “repeatedly asked if he needed assistance,” but the man declined. Moore said his wife, a nurse, also checked on the man, but he again declined medical help.
“We exchanged information and handled the situation responsibly at the scene,” Moore said. However, the man later asked the Oak Brook Police Department for assistance locating Moore after he “mistakenly wrote down the wrong phone number,” Moore said.
“If the individual chooses to pursue anything further, the matter would be handled through the insurance company,” he said, noting that as of Friday, they had not been contacted.
DuPage County sheriff’s office spokesperson Michael Cirolia confirmed to the Tribune Friday afternoon that Moore was “in fact on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.” Cirolia said he could not provide any further comment because of the investigation.
Moore’s statement lamented that “the individuals involved in the incident deserved their privacy,” saying the situation was instead used for politicking.
“A race for sheriff should be about qualifications, experience, and leadership,” Moore said. “Unfortunately, Mr. Noonan and his campaign appear more interested in political attacks than in discussing the issues that matter to DuPage County residents.”
Noonan did not return requests for comment.
Meanwhile, at least one of Moore’s endorsements has been withdrawn. DuPage County Board member Cindy Cronin Cahill, in a written statement, confirmed she’s no longer endorsing Moore for sheriff.
“While I don’t know all of the details, what has come to light is deeply concerning to me,” she wrote. “The office of DuPage County sheriff requires sound judgment, integrity, and conduct that earns the public’s trust, and under these circumstances, I can no longer support him.”
