Madison County Sheriffs Department

About the Sheriff

Robert J. Hertz was sworn in as the Sheriff of Madison County on December 2, 2002. Sheriff Hertz started work with the Madison County Sheriff's Office on March 1, 1972, recently completing his 37th year of service with the department. Sheriff Hertz started as a uniformed deputy sheriff working the midnight shift in the Patrol Division. In late 1974 he was transferred into the Investigative Division as a Detective, and remained there until 1983 when he was named Chief Deputy Sheriff in the Administration of Sheriff Emil Toffant. In 1986 Sheriff Bob Churchich took office and Hertz served Sheriff Churchich as the Chief of Detectives, Jail Superintendent, Administrative Assistant, and Chief Deputy Sheriff for 6 years.

Sheriff Hertz is 59 years old and lives with his wife of 31 years and three children in Godfrey. In 1977 Sheriff Hertz graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Administration of Justice from McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois. From 1992 to 2002 Sheriff Hertz worked part-time at night as a criminal justice instructor at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Sheriff Hertz is a 1983 graduate from the F.B.I. National Academy in Washington, D.C. and a past Deputy Commander with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.

He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission and serves on the boards of the Major Case Squad, the Madison County Child Advocacy Center, and the Illinois Sheriff's Association. Sheriff Hertz is also currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the Southern Zone of the Illinois Sheriff's Association. During his career with the Sheriff's Office Sheriff Hertz was promoted through the ranks from Sergeant, to Lieutenant, to Captain, and is now the Sheriff.

The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for the County and serves as the acting officer of the Circuit Court, director of safety and administrator of the County Jail. The main function of this Department include:

Investigation of all crimes of violence and fraud, to arrest suspects, and to recover stolen property and evidence.
Provide basic police services to the unincorporated areas of the County.
Maintain a complete record of all traffic accidents, arrests, investigations and complaints.
Serve warrants issued at the request of the State's Attorney and all writs and summonses issued by the Circuit Court.
Manage all prisoners confined to the County Jail and to be responsible for delivering prisoners to court for arraignments, bench or jury trials.