Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins

The discovery of three vehicles on fire at a West Peoria business is being investigated as suspected arson.

The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a woman whose body was found Monday in the Illinois River.

A correctional officer was arrested and immediately fired from the Peoria County Jail Thursday night after an allegation of passing contraband to a detainee in exchange for money.

Peoria County Jail, in recent years, has restrained its charges for longer durations than other jails in Illinois and far past industry recommendations. There is evidence of a mental health issue in at least 70% of its restraint incidents.

The Peoria County Jail needs some serious work. The county board now has five potential options for how to tackle it — depending on how much money and time they're willing to spend.

An advanced technology coming to Peoria County offers the ability to track stolen vehicles without needing to engage in high-speed pursuits.

Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins says an analysis of options to upgrade the jail facility is nearly complete.

The commercial flight was headed from Joplin, Mo. to Chicago when it landed at the Peoria International Airport around 7 a.m. Thursday, Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said.

A 13-year-old was taken into custody after allegedly bringing a stolen handgun to Dunlap Valley Middle School.

In a wide-ranging interview with WCBU, Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins discusses how the no-cash bail system has impacted the jail population, addressing infrastructure needs at the facility, and other issues related to county law enforcement.