Dwight Baird was elected to the Office of Sheriff of Kendall County in 2014.  Sheriff Baird started his law enforcement career in 1990 when he was hired by the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.  After serving with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office for a year and a half, he was hired by the Oswego Police Department.  While with the Oswego Police Department, he worked in Investigations, Patrol, Undercover Narcotics, was a member of the Special Response Team.  During this time he rose through the ranks within the police department to obtain the rank of Chief of Police in 2003, where he remained until his retirement from the Oswego Police Department in December of 2014.  Sheriff Baird was also the Interim Village Administrator from April of 2011 to June of 2012.  Additionally, he served nine years as a volunteer fire fighter for the Oswego Fire protection District.

Sheriff Baird attended Waubonsee Community College where he graduated with an Associate's Degree in Applied Science (Criminal Justice).  Sheriff Baird completed his undergraduate studies at Aurora University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (Criminal Justice Management).  Sheriff Baird continued his education and achieved a Master of Arts degree in Law Enforcement Justice Administration from Western Illinois University where he also received a certification as a Police Executive.  While attending Western Illinois University, Sheriff Baird was inducted as a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.  He also attended the FBI National Academy as a graduate of the 209th Session in 2002 and FBI LEEDS in 2010.  These programs that focus on leadership and management for police executives. Sheriff Baird is also a graduate of the 108th Session of the National Sheriff’s Institute.

Sheriff Baird is a member of the Illinois Sheriffs Association, National Sheriffs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.  He is the past President of the North East Multi-Regional Training Board and a Board member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, Federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency, Kendall County Public Action to Deliver Shelter, and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

He has been recognized for his achievements throughout his career, which include a Life Saving award by the Illinois Police Association, Medal of Valor award by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, two-time Metropolitan Enforcement Groups Director award, 2007 Youth Service Volunteer award, 1997 Oswegoland Optimist Police Officer of the Year, 2006 Governor’s Medal of Honor award, and 2014 Illinois Crime Commission Police Chief of the Year.