Peoria County Sheriff’s Office: Administration

The Peoria County Sheriff's Office organizational chart lists three Undersheriffs. Second in command in our department is the Chief Deputy. Responsible for Corrections is the Jail Superintendent. In charge of all Commissioned Personnel is the Field Operations Commander. These are the men that make it happen in the name of and for the Sheriff:

Chief Deputy Joseph M. Needham

Chief Deputy Joseph Needham was commissioned in 1978, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1993. He was appointed to the position of Captain in 1994 and Chief Deputy in June of 2002. Chief Deputy Needham spent most of his career in Patrol Division, with temporary assignments in the M.E.G. Unit, the Detective Division, and the Warrant Division. Chief Needham has served as a Field Training Officer and as a member of the tactical (S.T.A.R.) Team. Chief Deputy Needham is a graduate of Illinois Central College, Bradley University, and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Chief Deputy Needham received the Deputy of the Year Award in 1982 and has received numerous other Departmental Awards and Commendations.

Corrections Superintendent Steven S. Smith

Corrections Superintendent Steven Smith joined the Department in 1973, and was assigned to the Jail until appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1974.. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in 1977, and was assigned as the Jail Design Liaison in 1982 for the Jail that opened in 1985. Superintendent Smith served as the Jail Superintendent from 1983 until 1986 when he left the Department to work as the Director of Security for a major Illinois hospital. Steve returned to the Department in 1999, serving as Corrections Superintendent. Superintendent Smith received his Bachelors Degree from Illinois College in Jacksonville and his Masters from Sangamon State University.

Captain E. David Briggs

Captain Briggs began his career with the Peoria County Sheriff's Office in 1977 as a Correctional Officer. In 1978 he was promoted to the position of Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the Patrol Division. Captain Briggs was assigned to the Detective Divsion in 1983, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1986. Captain Briggs is a graduate of the University of Illinois, a graduate of Northwestern Traffic Institute's School of Police Staff and Command, and is a State Certified Traffic Accident Reconstructionist. Captain Briggs received the Deputy of the Year Award in 1990 and has received numerous other Departmental Awards and Commendations. Captain Briggs is a past Commander of the Tactical Unit and was in charge of the Detective Division for ten years. In his current assignment, he oversees the Patrol, Detective, and Warrant Divisions, as well as the Crime Scene Technicians.