Re-elect Mark Vogelzang for Sheriff 2026

12/06/2025

Over the course of my career, I’ve been able to play a part in a lot of different events. One interesting event involved a protective detail for the Secret Service during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Champaign on April 23, 2015.

Myself and one other sniper from the Champaign Police Department’s SWAT Sniper Team were selected to provide overwatch at Willard Airport while then Vice-President Biden transitioned to and from his motorcade. All air traffic control towers have highly restricted access, but we were able to use the roof of control tower to have a vantage point overseeing the entire airport. We were deployed prior to his arrival and remained there until his motorcade returned to the airport and Airforce 2 took off.

I started with the sniper team after going to Basic Sniper School in 2009. Over the next several years I was able to attend several more sniper schools and a couple competitions to include the SniperWeek Competition in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2010. In 2012, I moved to the team leader role for our sniper team and continued to be a part of the sniper team until 2016.

11/06/2025

One goal we’ve focused on over the past couple of years has been increased security at our courthouse. This translates into a safer environment for both staff working there and our citizens doing business within the courthouse.

Over the past couple of years, we have installed better surveillance cameras as well as increased the number of cameras in and around the building. We have also added larger monitors for our court security officers to better observe activity in and around the courthouse.

The walk-through metal detector and handheld metal detectors have been recently updated. In the past year we were able to obtain an x-ray system from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to check bags for possible weapons. This x-ray system is a very expensive piece of equipment that we were able to obtain at no cost to our county.

We have been very lucky to have some outstanding people employed as our court security officers. Some have been with Piatt County for many years and do a great job interacting with our citizens while maintaining security in the building and courtrooms. Many of our court security officers are retired officers or deputies and bring years of law enforcement experience to the courthouse.

Our court security officers now have added protection as ballistic vests are standard issued to them. We have also added a Taser device for our court security. Court Security has access to tourniquets now and receive training on the use of them.

We will continue to look for ways to improve safety and security, not only at the courthouse but around the county!

10/28/2025

Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to assist others in many different ways. One such opportunity was an ILEAS deployment to New Orleans.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) was formed in 2002 in response to the September 11th attacks as a joint venture of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). ILEAS operates the largest statewide local law enforcement mutual aid network in the United States.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in late August of 2005, the significant flooding caused a large amount of damage and loss of life. ILEAS subsequently received a request for mutual aid assistance and organized 300 officers from around the state to be deployed to Louisiana to assist their first responders. In addition to the officers from Illinois, we worked alongside law enforcement personnel from around the country during this time.

I deployed to New Orleans in the first wave of officers that were sent to assist. We had an initial briefing in Springfield with all the other Illinois law enforcement agencies that were responding. We then drove in a caravan to Hammond, Louisiana where we were housed in an arena at Southeastern Louisiana University. During the two weeks we were in New Orleans, we assisted in the evacuation of residents, guarded medical stockpiles, and paired up with local agencies to assist with patrol duties.

Over the years, ILEAS has continued to assist when called upon for mutual aid. I currently serve as the Region 7 Co-Chair for the ILEAS Governing Board.

10/13/2025

Last week, Sergeant Williams and I gave a presentation at Parkland College for members of the Early College and Career academy who are enrolled in a dual credit course through the Regional Board of Education. Students are High School Junior and Senior students from Champaign, Douglas, Ford and Piatt Counties who have an interest in law enforcement.

More information about ECCA can be found at www.parkland.edu/ecca.

10/07/2025

We are extremely lucky to have outstanding schools in Piatt County. Not only do we have some great facilities but outstanding staff and teachers that are extremely dedicated to their profession and the safety of our students.

The Sheriff’s Office has always worked closely with our schools to ensure the safety of staff and students. In October of 2022 , our department attended a meeting that was hosted by the Regional Superintendent of Education for Macon and Piatt Schools. This meeting was the start of a collaboration between many different organizations to plan for a safe and organized reunification of students with their parents / legal guardians should there be an incident that required an evacuation of a school. Although most people immediately think of an active shooter incident, it could also be due to a fire or tornado which damaged the school or a nearby hazmat spill which may cause an evacuation.

As I talk to people from around the country, I’ve learned that most school districts plan and practice fire drills, tornado drills, and address active shooter issues. So many schools don’t have a plan for what happens once the emergency has been resolved. How do we get our students accounted for and safely returned to their parents or guardians?

In the past three years we have developed partnerships with our hospital, mental health professionals, churches, fire departments, ambulance services, local city and village administrative staff, local streets departments, emergency management agencies, and other law enforcement agencies. These organizations have been involved in the planning process, and many have participated in exercises to test our plans.

In September 2024, we had an opportunity to present our work at the 60th Annual IASA (Illinois Association of School Administrators) Conference in Springfield, IL. In March 2025, we were selected to present at the National Conference on Education in New Orleans.

While I feel we have made some great strides to have the best plan in place if needed, we will continue to work closely with our schools and other partners to continue planning, testing, and practicing our reunification plans for our schools.

09/26/2025

As I ask for your support in the upcoming 2026 elections, I wanted to provide some information on my background.

I graduated from Monticello High School in 1990 and then attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. I graduated from UIUC with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics in 1994. After a short stint with Country Companies Insurance, I started my law enforcement career with the Charleston (IL) Police Department in 1996. I spent four years with Charleston PD in Patrol but was also one of the initial members of the new multi-agency SWAT team that was being formed in Coles County.

In 2000, I transferred to the Champaign Police Department. This transition also allowed me to move back to Monticello where we raised our family and we have lived since. During my time at Champaign, I served in many different roles. While starting in Patrol Division, I eventually moved to a pro-active Walking Unit and then into the Investigation’s Division where I spent six years. In 2012, I was promoted to sergeant in Patrol and then to Lieutenant in 2016. I also served as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and Field Training Sergeant (FTS) during my time in Patrol.

During my time at Champaign Police Department, I spent twenty years on the SWAT Team. In addition to serving as an entry team member, I was also involved in the less lethal team and the sniper team. We were also trained as part of a regional Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) team for several years. My final role on SWAT was that of the SWAT Commander for the team.

In 2021, I assumed the role of Sheriff for the Piatt County Sheriff’s Office as Sheriff Hunt retired. I was elected to this same office in 2022. During my time as Sheriff, I am extremely proud of both the team we have working here and the accomplishments we have made during the past four years.

Over the next several months leading up to the election, I will continue to post information from throughout my career detailing the training and experiences that I continue to use in my current position of Sheriff as well as information about our accomplishments over the past four years.

I hope to earn your vote in both the Primary Election on March 17, 2026, and the General Election on November 3, 2026.

Thank you for your support!

Sheriff Mark Vogelzang

09/24/2025

I can't believe this was four years ago already. We have a great team at Piatt County and I'm hoping to serve for another four years!

Mark Vogelzang: 'To be able to be back in my home county; we have so many friends and family here. It's just how I wanted to finish out my career'