Brad Sandefur

Candidate Bio

Brad has worked for the Cook County Sheriff’s office since 1990. During that time, he has become certified as an academy instructor, a correctional officer, a police officer, a tactical officer, has worked as an Investigator, and has taught in Crime Awareness (CAPS) and Officer Friendly programs. He has 29 years of supervisory experience, including street units, and spent 17 years as a shift commander. Brad has trained with the Secret Service, the FBI, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Brad moved to Chicago at age 18, where his mother owned a pub on the Gold Coast. Brad helped out at the pub and worked various jobs until he joined the Marine Corps just before his 20th birthday, enlisting to be a Military police officer. He both married his wife of 35 years and began his career with the sheriff’s office in 1990. Brad has four children. Two suffer from autism, one is learning disabled, one has cerebral palsy, and one is physically disabled, having suffered from a ‘clubbed foot’ since birth.
Brad attended three colleges: Oakton Community College, Roosevelt University, and Liberty University. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Forensic Psychology cognate, and is a Ph.D. candidate. During this time, Brad worked as a security officer, legal investigator, auxiliary police officer, deputy sheriff, and several other occupations, having worked many different jobs at the same time.