About Gary Caruana

In 2014 Gary Caruana was elected and subsequently sworn in as the 38th Sheriff of Winnebago County and was reelected in 2018. He is currently running for a third term as Sheriff.  Sheriff Caruana has spent the last eight years building an efficient and professional law enforcement organization.

In the late 70's and early 80's Sheriff Caruana served Winnebago County Deputy Sheriff. During his nearly decade on the job he served as a patrol officer, corrections officer, and process server allowing him to develop an understanding of the workings of the entire department.

In the early eighties Caruana decided to move to the private sector where he began his longtime career with United Parcel Service (UPS). Caruana rose through the ranks of the corporation. During this growth, he also attended college earning a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree.

At UPS Caruana became the Corporate Investigative Security Manager responsible for facilities in Illinois including Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford airports. This responsibility covered 12,000 employees and millions of parcels carried by thousands of vehicles across the state. During that time Caruana developed working relationships with Local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies including a collaboration on the post 9/11 master operating security plans within O’Hare, Rockford and Peoria airports.

Caruana retired in 2013 from UPS and began discussing his desire to run for Sheriff of Winnebago County. On September 5, 2013, he made his candidacy official before a crowd of over 150 friends and supporters. Caruana had also served as a substitute teacher in the local public school system and had been a volunteer for Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. Caruana also served as a member of the Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. That service led him to running for public office.

Caruana has attended, and graduated from, the FBI Academy where he was able to develop relationships and exchange ideas with other law enforcement agencies across the country. Best practices are a hallmark of Caruana’s management of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.

Caruana resides in Rockford with his wife Maria. Together they have two children and three grandchildren.