Between Illinois State Police investigations, fraud accusations and social media rumors, the race has become about more than just qualifications. Candidates are finding themselves answering for their pasts rather than talking about the future.

(WAND) - On March 17, voters in Christian County will cast their ballots in the primary election for the next sheriff. Two Republican candidates are running, and no Democrats are running. 

Running are two lifetime Christian County residents and law enforcement officers. Jim Baker is the current Chief Deputy at the Christian County Sheriff's Office. Phil Deal is the current Assistant Chief at the Stonington Police Department. 

Between Illinois State Police investigations, fraud accusations and social media rumors, the race has become about more than just qualifications. Candidates are finding themselves answering for their pasts rather than talking about the future. 

Jim Baker

Jim Baker has been the second-in-command at the Christian County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) for four years. He started his career working part-time at CCSO and part-time at the Kincaid Police Department, eventually serving as Chief. In total, he's worked in law enforcement roles for 27 years.  

"One of my mentors took me for a ride-along, and just like a lot of people you do the ride along and you have an exciting night serving the community," said Baker." And I just felt it to be very rewarding and started the career path."

If elected, Baker plans to continue many of the initiatives he's started in his time at the CCSO. He also wants to see the department advance it's training on mental health. Ideally, he wants a mental health caseworker or advocate on-call to help respond to calls where people are experiencing a mental health crisis. 

He also wants to upgrade the technology CCSO uses to combat child exploitation and pornography.

In July of 2025, the Illinois State Police (ISP) investigated Baker for theft. Investigation documents obtained by WAND News say Baker took construction materials removed from the county jail during renovations and brought them to his home. In both the official investigation and his conversation with WAND, Baker said a construction worker asked him where to take the rocks he had removed from the building's roof. 

"I was appointed to oversee a project by the county board and with that, there came questions down the road," said Baker. "The contractor was responsible for removal of some old aggregate. After several attempts I found a solution to a problem, and I believe the outcome speaks for itself." 

After completing the investigation, ISP referred the case to a special prosecutor, who did not press charges. 

Recently, Baker was involved in another ISP investigation. A post circulated on social media accusing Baker of sexual assault more than 10 years ago. Baker also said the citizen who accused him was calling the department and leaving threatening emails. Baker told WAND News that he shared concerns about the behavior with Sheriff Bruce Kettlekamp, who asked ISP to investigate the citizen.

"We felt that it was threatening and an intimidation thing," said Baker. "So Sheriff and I and the state's attorney worked together and came up with the idea. We were the ones that contacted the state police for the things that were being posted and threatened through email." 

Sheriff Kettelkamp told WAND News that the rumors were inhibiting Baker's ability to do his job. ISP told him that they would investigate the claims made on social media and the concerns that Baker was being harassed. 

ISP completed that investigation and passed it to the Greene County State's Attorney for review. The State's Attorney did not press charges against Baker for the accusations made on social media. 

Baker said this case, along with others he has supervised during his time at CCSO, has taught him just how important transparency is in law enforcement. 

"As a sheriff candidate, the first thing the voters look at is no different than their hiring anybody else," said Baker. "When you hire someone, the first thing you look at is their work record, their experience, their resume, and proven success." 

Phil Deal

Running against Baker is current Assistant Chief of the Stonington Police Department, Phil Deal. Deal has worked in law enforcement for 24 years, including 16 years at the CCSO. 

Deal has lived in Christian County for his entire life. His work in law enforcement started with a ride-along and has continued due to his passion for service. 

"Helping people, like going to a call, a domestic, and giving a little boy or a little girl a stuffed animal and saying, 'Hey, let's take your mind off what's going on," said Deal.  "Life's not a competition, we're all in it together." 

If elected, Deal's top priorities include uniting local law enforcement agencies throughout Christian County. By working with local police departments, he believes service will improve across the county. 

"A lot of times we only have two deputies on for 780mi²," said Deal. My vision is to make sure that, or try and get everybody in the county, you know, Pana, Morrisonville, Edinburg, Taylorville, Assumption, trying to get the smaller towns, all commission cards so they have arrest powers in our county." 

Download PDF Deal Fraud Investigation

Deal has also been the subject of an ISP Investigation. In January of 2015, while Deal was working as a Deputy at CCSO, he was investigated for fraud. He was placed on paid leave while the ISP investigation was underway. Deal was never arrested or charged. 

"I wrote a check and the lady held it… my attorney at that time said that's no different than a farmer going to a farm sale, buying a combine, writing a check for it and going to the bank money and signing the papers," said Deal. "So I was investigated by the state police. They found no wrongdoing."

Download PDF Deal Policy Violation

In March of 2015, Deal was suspended without pay for 30 days. According to Deal's CCSO record, he was being considered for dismissal because of policy violations, including not running his tree business ethically and not paying his bills. 

"Unfortunately, putting four kids through college is a financial strain on a deputy," said Deal. "I mean, I've had money troubles in the past, that's that's no secret."

As Sheriff, Deal would be responsible for overseeing the CCSO budget and ensuring deputies followed all department policies. Despite being disciplined for his handling of money, Deal believes he is capable of taking on those responsibilities. 

"They'll be checks and balances, of course," said Deal. "People that's in charge of payroll, people that's in charge of doing the budgets and what have you."

In 2023, Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp and Baker launched an investigation into Deal over concerns about when and why he was taking time off. During their investigation, they looked into Deal's employment record. They discovered what they believed was a falsified document clearing Deal of his wrongdoings in 2015, according to documents provided to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB).

WAND obtained the letter.

Download PDF Alleged False Letter

The document was allegedly written in 2018 by then Chief Deputy Bruce Engeling. The letter indicated that the strike on Deal's record for his actions in 2015 was removed. 

Kettelkamp told WAND News he reached out to Engeling and confirmed Engeling did not write the letter. Documents also reveal the union did not have a copy of the letter, despite it being addressed to both Kettelkamp and a union rep. Deal claims he could not have sent the letter himself. 

"To get the access to that file, you'd have to have a key or to get to the letter, you'd have to have rights to the computer," said Deal. "Nor did I have that. And I had none of them to get to that last chance letter agreement." 

In an email, Deal's union attorney said Deal was going to be terminated, but wanted to resign instead. The attorney asked CCSO to stop investigating Deal after he resigned and to ensure his ILETSB certification was not affected. 

In the final paperwork submitted to ILETSB, Baker said Deal resigned while being investigated for policy violations of truthfulness and attendance. Deal maintained his ILETSB certification.

Download PDF ILETSB File

Deal said he believed CCSO leadership was retaliating against him because he had been outspoken about his plans to run for sheriff. 

"I believe that was a part of it, yes," said Deal. "But hopefully the good Lord will let me get sheriff, and we'll go on, move forward and go from there." 

Now, it's up to Christian County voters to decide which candidate should be their next sheriff. With no Democrat candidate, the Republican primary winner is likely to be the next sheriff. Election day is Tuesday, March 17.

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