A member of our community has come forward with serious allegations involving Deputy Jamie Benavides of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. Although the State’s Attorney has declined to pursue criminal charges currently, the concerns raised deserve transparency, accountability, and serious review. We are asking for Deputy Jamie Benavides to be removed from the sheriff’s department permanently.

On New Year’s Eve 2025, a valued community member reported that she was sexually assaulted by Deputy Jamie Benavides of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office while he was off duty. She stated that she told him “no” multiple times before he sexually assaulted her. 

After struggling with the trauma she endured  for weeks, she made the difficult decision to report the incident with the help of a friend who is also a police officer. She has since had to relive the experience repeatedly while giving statements and participating in the investigation. She has also had to live in constant fear and anxiety as many survivors do. Wondering if she will be pulled over by the deputy, wondering whether he will do this to someone else. 

On March 9, 2026, she was informed by the detective leading the case, that the State’s Attorney would not pursue criminal charges, he implied that the case would be difficult to prosecute in court, he also implied that by prosecuting officer Benavides it would “be hard on her”.  If a survivor wants to have someone criminally charged, it is not up to any entity to try to persuade her not to, even if their intentions are to “protect” her. 

While prosecutors sometimes decline cases due to legal challenges, this decision does not erase the seriousness of the allegations. When accusations involve a sworn law enforcement officer, the community deserves transparency and accountability. 

Often times there might not be enough evidence to prosecute but there is something called "preponderance of the evidence" which is a standard used in police disciplinary hearings involving allegations of sexual assault. This means that the evidence must show it is more likely than not (51% or higher) that the assault occurred. This can be used to terminate an officer for misconduct. 

Law enforcement officers hold positions of power and trust. The public must feel confident that those entrusted to protect them are held to the highest standards of conduct.

For the safety of the community and the integrity of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, we are calling for the following actions:

• The permanent and immediate removal of Deputy Jamie Benavides from his position as a sheriff’s deputy 
• A full and transparent internal investigation
• An independent review of the case to ensure all evidence was properly considered
• Public accountability regarding how allegations involving law enforcement officers are handled

Survivors of sexual assault often face fear, stigma, and disbelief when they come forward. When the accused is someone in a position of authority, those barriers become even greater.

This petition is about ensuring that allegations of this magnitude are not ignored and that public trust in law enforcement is protected.

Our community deserves transparency. Survivors deserve to be heard. Accountability must apply to everyone.

Please sign and share this petition to demand action and accountability.