​Jim Baker

Jim Baker is a lifelong resident of Christian County who has spent his career dedicated to protecting and serving the community he calls home. A 1989 graduate of South Fork High School, he pursued his passion for law enforcement by earning an associate’s degree in the field in 2007.

 

With 27 years of experience in law enforcement, Jim has worked to enhance public safety in Christian County. He began his career in 1998, serving both as the Chief of Police for the Village of Kincaid and as a part-time deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. In 2003, he joined the Sheriff’s Office full-time, where he has served in a variety of roles, including patrol deputy, K-9 officer for ten years, shift sergeant, and, for the past four years, Chief Deputy.

 

As Chief Deputy, Jim has played a critical role in overseeing the daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office, managing personnel, contract negotiations, payroll, scheduling, and a balanced $3.5 million budget. His leadership has led to increased staffing in the jail and dispatch, the addition of an extra deputy for the first time in 23 years, and a reduction in overtime—all aimed at improving law enforcement coverage and efficiency for the citizens of Christian County.

 

A strong advocate for tackling the county’s drug issues, Jim played a key role in aligning the Christian County Sheriff’s Office with the Taylorville Police Department’s Community Action Team to ensure county-wide collaboration. He also supervised a deputy assigned to the ISP Central Illinois Enforcement Group, strengthening drug enforcement efforts across the region.

 

Believing in the power of community engagement, Jim spearheaded the CCSO ‘Connecting the Citizens with the Sheriff’s Office’ initiative, leading to the creation of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office app—fully funded at no cost to taxpayers. Additionally, he secured over $140,000 in grants for other critical public safety initiatives. His dedication to fiscal responsibility is further reflected in his role as project manager for a $2.1 million project, which included overseeing the relocation of the new Sheriff’s Office operations building and managing renovations for both the new facility and the county jail.

 

Beyond his work in law enforcement, Jim serves on multiple advisory boards, including the Central Illinois Enforcement Group, 911 Board Committee, and Lincoln Land Community College Law Enforcement Advisory Board. He is also involved in local school driver education programs, helping educate young drivers on safety.

 

His dedication and service have been recognized through his 2024 nomination for Officer of the Year. In addition to his law enforcement career, he has also been a small business owner for the past 17 years, demonstrating customer service and financial management skills.

 

A proud husband to Krystal and father to daughter, Erin, Jim Baker is committed to making Christian County a safer, stronger community for future generations. With a deep understanding of the challenges law enforcement faces and a vision for the future, he is ready to continue serving the county with integrity, dedication, and experience as our next Sheriff.