PEORIA, Ill. – In short, now-former Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell says he needed to step down — if for no other reason than his own mental health.
Asbell says contention in recent years with the Peoria County Board is only a part of the issue.
“These last two years have been outliers,” said Asbell. “We live in a world where we like to push blame on someone else when everything’s crashing in. I felt myself falling in to the same category. You just get this sense of anger and frustration.”
Asbell says he felt it was time for “new blood” to take over the department. That’s why he wants Chris Watkins to replace him.
Watkins — who will officially become sheriff after the November election unless Democrats slate a candidate who defeats him — will replace Asbell on an interim basis until the County Board approves an appointment.
“I’ve known Chris his whole career,” said Asbell. “Interesting enough, his background is similar to mine: both local boys. We did the military; I’m Army, he’s Air Force.”
And, Asbell says, Watkins, like him, started in the jail, has been a patrol deputy, then went to investigations, and had other roles. Asbell describes his relationship with Watkins as both a friendship, and a mentorship.
Asbell does have a message for other government and elected officials.
“It’s about respect, and listening to your subject matter experts,” said Asbell. “When you have a question about criminal justice, or the jail, or law enforcement, or taxes if you’re the treasurer, or bond papers at the Clerk’s office, listen to the ones that work there. They know so much.”
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