Mason County Illinois Sheriff's Office

05/27/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MASON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
PUBLIC NOTICE TO FARMERS AND RESIDENTS
Copper Wire Thefts from Irrigation Systems
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating multiple thefts involving copper wiring being removed from irrigation systems and agricultural equipment located in rural farming areas throughout Mason County.
These thefts have resulted in significant financial losses and operational disruptions for local farmers during the growing season. In many cases, suspects are targeting irrigation pivots and field systems during nighttime hours, cutting and removing copper wire from remote locations.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking all farmers, landowners, and rural residents to remain alert and routinely inspect their property, irrigation systems, and farm equipment for signs of tampering or theft.
Farmers are encouraged to:
• Frequently check irrigation systems, especially in isolated fields
• Report suspicious vehicles or persons in rural areas, particularly during late-night hours
• Document and photograph serial numbers or identifying markings on equipment
• Consider installing trail cameras, motion lighting, or GPS tracking devices where feasible
• Secure access roads and gates whenever possible
• Immediately report any suspicious activity or evidence of theft to law enforcement
Residents are reminded that suspicious activity may include:
• Pickup trucks or trailers parked near irrigation systems late at night
• Individuals cutting wire or carrying tools in remote field areas
• Vehicles repeatedly driving section roads or entering farm lanes without authorization
• Sudden sales of large amounts of stripped copper wire or scrap metal
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is actively pursuing investigative leads and working to identify those responsible. Community assistance is critical in solving these crimes and preventing additional thefts.
Anyone with information, suspicious observations, surveillance footage, or tips related to these incidents is encouraged to contact the Mason County Sheriff’s Office immediately. Tips may remain confidential.
If you observe a theft in progress or suspicious activity occurring, do not approach suspects yourself. Call 911 immediately and provide as much information as possible, including vehicle descriptions, license plates, and directions of travel.
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the continued cooperation and support of the agricultural community and all residents in helping protect our rural communities and farms.
Contact the Mason County Sheriff's Office
Non-Emergency = 309-543-2231
Emergency = 911
Mason County Crimestoppers will pay for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of responsible persons.

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

04/20/2026

DRUG TAKE BACK is here again. This Saturday, April 25, 2026, is Drug Take Back Day. The Mason County Sheriff's Office is once again collecting unwanted, expired, or no longer needed medications for disposal.
At 10 am to 11 am Chief Deputy Baker will be in Mason City in the grocery store parking lot.
From 11:30 to 12:30 he will be at the Manito Lodge parking lot.
At 1 pm to 2 pm he will be at the old Alco parking lot.
This is a great time to get those old medications out of the cabinets and disposed of. If we all participate, we can keep these dangerous medications off the streets.
Please share.

Send a message to learn more

03/05/2026

The Mason County Dispatch Center has experienced a telephone outage. Phone calls are temporarily being routed to the Havana PD Dispatch Center until the phone company resolves the issue.
We have added two cell phone numbers for use until the problem is resolved. They are (309) 435-1172 and (309) 435-1033. Please share with friends and family. A work order has been submitted for the repairs, and we hope for a quick resolution.
Thank you
Paul Gann
Sheriff

11/05/2025

Results of the 2025 Drug Take Back. WOW! Over 220 lbs of unwanted, expired, and unused medications were collected last month during the Drug Take Back Program.
Chief Deputy Dave Baker made the rounds of Mason City, Manito, and Havana to set up collection points for this great program. The Sheriff's Office also has a receptacle in the lobby for turn in of medications. The box is available 24/7 every day.
The Drug Take Back Program allows all of us to get these drugs out of the medicine cabinets and keep them off the streets in a safe manner at no costs to the citizens of Mason County. Turn in is voluntary and no questions asked.
Pictured is Steve Burgett stacking the boxes turned in for destruction.
Thanks to Dave Baker for giving up a Saturday and Thanks to Steve Burgett for transporting the containers to the collection point. A special thank you to all of the citizens who turned in medications no longer needed.

08/20/2025

Several citizens have requested information on recent criminal activity in the Mason City area. So, I will provide some information.
There have been burglaries in Mason City, both within the city and in the rural area. These burglaries were primarily of vacant or abandoned houses. We have suspects, search warrants were executed, investigations and interviews conducted, some stolen property has been recovered. Reports are close to completion and when they are complete, they will be forwarded to the SA for charges. That may not satisfy the thirst for information, but we will not release anything that may compromise further investigation or prosecution of these individuals. The initial search warrant was executed by the Mason County Emergency Response Team, which is compromised by officers of the Mason County Sheriff's Office and the Havana Police Department. On a separate date, Mason City Police recovered some stolen fi****ms from a residence in Lincoln.
Yesterday morning, there were several vehicle burglaries, theft of vehicles, and trespass to motor vehicle incidents. reported. Those crimes are being investigated. We have processed the stolen vehicles for evidence and procedures for the identification of the persons responsible are in progress.
Agencies involved with the investigations are the Mason County Sheriff's Office, the Mason City Police Department, the Illinois State Police and other agencies. Some of the crimes committed crossed over into Tazewell County and Menard County and we are working closely with those agencies.
For those that desire to know what other incidents are reported in Mason County, I urge you to read the Sheriff's report in the newspaper.
More importantly, citizens can reduce their likelihood of being a victim of these crimes by removing valuables from their (or family owned) vacant houses, locking the doors of your vehicles and avoid leaving valuables in plain view. Installation of cameras and/or home security systems are not only valuable for evidentiary purposes but also serve as a deterrent.
I am confident that enough evidence will be obtained to support prosecution of individuals in these incidents once the investigations are complete.

05/27/2025

The phone issue has been resolved. Normal service for land line and cell phone service has been restored. The process took way longer than I had expected but part of the problem I guess is the various providers could not agree on whose system was at fault.
AT&T, for this particular issue, had the better performance for cell phone 911 calls.

03/13/2025

Camper for Sale. The Mason County Emergency Management Agency is selling, by sealed bid, this 27 foot camper. The front room (bedroom) was cleared out to make a radio command center. This also has bunk beds in the back. We have used this as a command post a couple of times and would be great for a hunting "cabin". Generator comes with the camper.
Minimum bid for this camper is $5000. If you would like to view the camper, contact Sheriff Paul Gann for a viewing.
Interested parties should submit their bid in a sealed envelope marked "Camper bid". Be sure to include your contact information.
Sealed bids will be opened on April 11, 2025.

02/04/2025

FOR SALE: The Mason County Sheriff's Office will sell, by sealed bid, a Black in color 2019 Dodge Charger AWD. The process to bid on this vehicle are as follows: The minimum bid is $4,000. Interested persons should place their bid in a sealed envelope, the bid should include your bid, your name and phone number. On the outside of the envelope write "sealed bid for 2019 Charger". If you are mailing the bid, address it to Sheriff Paul Gann, Sealed Bid, 102 W. Market Street, Havana Illinois 62644.
Bids will be opened at 3 pm on February 28, 2025
If you have any questions, you may call the Sheriff's office at (309) 543-2231. If you would like to personally view the car, call to schedule. See attached photos.

02/03/2025

ILLINOIS SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association announces that it will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships throughout the State of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books, and fees only. The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois, full-time. Online learning at an Illinois-based school is also acceptable.

Sheriff Paul Gann, Mason County, will be awarding one (1) scholarship in the amount of $500.

There will be no restriction on any applicant by reason of race, age, creed, color, s*x or national origin. The only limitations are as follows:

• Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents
• Scholarships must be utilized at institutions of higher learning within the State of Illinois, including those offering online learning
• Students must be enrolled as a full-time student during the 2025-2026 school year (excluding summer session).

Applications are now available at the Mason County Sheriff’s office or on the ISA Website https://www.ilsheriff.org/youth-2/. Students must complete the application, answer the essay question, and return all documentation to the Sheriff’s office in their permanent county of residence by March 14, 2025 (must be postmarked by this date). A directory of Sheriffs offices is available on the ISA website at https://www.ilsheriff.org/sheriffs-directory/. For more information, please contact your local Sheriff’s office, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, high school advising center, or college financial aid office.

11/10/2024

APPREHENDED. Subject was apprehended at 0730 on 11/10/24 in Havana. Great teamwork between the Sheriff's Office, Havana Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff's Office and local citizens.