Sheriff Elrod Democrat Sheriff Badge

Silver star-shaped sheriff badge with blue text. 

Richard J. Elrod served as Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois from 1970 to 1986.  Elrod’s term as Sheriff came to an end after a federal investigation into police department corruption, known as Operation Safe Bet, exposed large-scale protection and bribery between Cook County police officers and numerous strip clubs, bookmakers, and prostitution houses. After the investigation, in which two veteran officers were convicted on 18 counts of racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, and income tax fraud, Elrod’s re-election bid was struck down by republican James E. O'Grady.