Illinois Sheriff to Retire After 40 Years

A county sheriff in far-southern Illinois says he'll be retiring after spending 40 years at the post.

WSIL-TV reports Elry Faulkner won't run for re-election next year.

The Johnson County sheriff's office says the 67-year-old was first elected in 1974. He would be 72 by the end of his next term if he ran for office once more.

Faulkner says he's ready to step down when his term ends next year. He said he thinks the job is better suited for someone who's younger and more tech-savvy.

Johnson County includes Vienna and is about 20 miles south of Carbondale.