Noonan questions Moore’s judgment after police report: ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that alcohol contributed to this incident’

DuPage County sheriff candidate Sean Noonan is questioning the judgment of his March 17 GOP primary opponent, Eddie Moore, after a police report detailed a Valentine’s Day parking lot incident outside Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook in which Moore was reported to have “smelled of alcohol” when he struck a pedestrian.

Noonan also criticized Moore for communicating with police through an attorney rather than answering questions directly, saying the move raises serious concerns about judgment and accountability, qualities he said are essential for anyone seeking the county’s top law-enforcement post.

The Oak Brook police report states that Moore struck a restaurant employee with his SUV, with witnesses noting the victim appeared injured and suggesting Moore may have been drinking.

Moore, who was not ultimately charged, initially denied the collision through an attorney. 

Noonan said that while his assessment is “pure speculation,” he believes alcohol played a role in both the incident and Moore’s response.

“I would definitely say alcohol played a contributing factor with this entire incident, 100%,” Noonan told the DuPage Policy Journal. “There’s no doubt in my mind that alcohol contributed to this incident.” 

“Not just what happened, it’s post-collision between him and the pedestrian. His actions afterwards reflect somebody who knows ‘if I call the police now, they’re going to show up. And if I get a policeman that’s eager and ambitious, I could potentially get charged with DUI.’” 

According to an Oak Brook police report describing the Feb. 14 incident, the victim told investigators he was hit by Moore’s SUV and that the vehicle ran over his leg. 

After the collision, the victim confronted Moore and suspected alcohol use, telling police he “asked if (Moore) had been drinking and stating he smelled of alcohol.” 

A witness to the incident told police that the victim “appeared disoriented and slow to respond” and that Moore “did not display a sense of urgency consistent with having struck a pedestrian.”

While Noonan acknowledged that absolute proof of Moore’s impairment is lacking because police did not immediately respond to the incident, he said witness accounts and the victim’s observations indicated the likely influence of alcohol.

“Considering there are witnesses and the victim who indicated in their testimonial to law enforcement, to the Oak Brook Police Department, that they smelled alcohol on his breath and even asked him, ‘Have you been drinking?’ At the time of the evening, it was like 11 or 11:30 at night when the incident happened,” Noonan said. “I think it’s reasonable to think that alcohol played a role. I’d love to see the tab, but I do not have access to that.”  

The victim told police he initially did not report the incident due to concerns about his immigration status, instead photographing Moore’s license plate and contacting police three days later after a phone number Moore provided at the scene failed to work.

Police later reached out to Moore, who did not respond immediately. Nine days later he submitted a written statement through an attorney.

Noonan criticized Moore’s choice to communicate through an attorney rather than speaking directly with police, saying it raises serious questions about his judgment and suitability for sheriff.

“The issue that nobody really addressed specifically is the fact that he pretty much he lawyered up at the end of the day. He said, ‘call my lawyer,’” Noonan said. 

In a statement to the Oak Brook Police submitted through his attorney, Moore did not admit to striking the victim.

“While driving west I noticed an individual fall near my driver’s side door and driver’s side mirror…Upon inspection of my vehicle, I have not observed any damage,” Moore’s statement reads. 

Surveillance footage, however, reportedly clearly showed the collision. 

“Upon review of the surveillance video provided by PNC Bank, I observed the black Lincoln Navigator listed above strike [the victim] with its vehicle,” Oak Brook Police Officer Justin Zychowski wrote in the police report. 

Noonan explained why Moore’s decision to consult an attorney instead of speaking directly to police raises concerns about judgment and accountability. 

“In law enforcement, anytime we get a defendant, when we try to interview them regarding an incident, if they’re a person in question, a suspect, when people lawyer up, probably 90% of law enforcement deems that as, ‘okay, you’re guilty, you don’t want to talk about it because people that are not guilty will talk about it,’” he said. 

Drawing on decades in law enforcement, Noonan, who is currently a police officer with Oakbrook Terrace Police Department, said Moore’s handling of the incident was troubling. 

Noonan said he has reviewed thousands of crash reports as an officer and supervisor and knows the standards and procedures inside out.

“I’m very experienced when it comes to crash reports,” he said. “You have an obligation, not just to give a number, a number is not sufficient. You would have to write down your name, your address, let the guy take a picture of your driver’s license. You gotta show your identification.” 

He praised the victim for later reporting the incident and bringing a translator to the police department. 

“I don’t think it would have ever been known,” Noonan said. “If he never reported it, nobody would have known.”

Noonan also criticized the Village of Oak Brook for delays in releasing information about the incident.

The village initially withheld all details before issuing a police report on March 11 in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. 

It continues to withhold video footage of the incident, Moore’s receipt from Gibsons showing any alcoholic drinks purchased, bodycam footage from officers who spoke with the victim, and photos of the victim’s pants showing tire marks.

“I don’t know what authority they have to withhold that information,” Noonan said. 

Noonan said the delays in releasing key details about the incident appear influenced by politics rather than standard procedure.

“If this wasn’t politically sensitive, it would have been released immediately,” he said.  

Noonan’s comments came after he posted a statement on social media emphasizing the importance of integrity in public service.

“Today, I want to address concerns regarding the actions and conduct of my opponent,” Noonan wrote on Facebook. “Public service demands integrity, accountability, and respect for the office we hold.” 

He added that when those standards are not upheld, “it is the responsibility of citizens and candidates alike – to speak up and seek transparency.” 

Noonan structured part of the statement under the heading “When a Career Cop Calls a Lawyer Instead of the Police,” arguing that voters expect sound judgment from a sheriff candidate.

“DuPage County voters expect one thing from the person who wants to be their next Sheriff: judgment,” he wrote.

He emphasized that point. 

“Not spin,” Noonan said. “Not excuses. Not lawyers speaking in their place.”

Noonan focused on Moore’s decision to direct investigators to his attorney. 

“But the most revealing part of the report came later — when police attempted to follow up,” Noonan wrote. “When investigators contacted Moore about the incident, he did not simply answer their questions. Instead, the report states that Moore told officers any further communication should go through his attorney. Let that sink in. A 31-year law-enforcement veteran — someone who wants to run the entire Sheriff’s Office — responded to a police inquiry about striking a pedestrian by directing investigators to his lawyer. Not an explanation. Not cooperation. A lawyer.”

Noonan argued this response raises broader questions about Moore’s judgment and accountability. 

“If a career police officer won’t talk directly to police about hitting a pedestrian, what does that say about his judgment — and accountability?” he wrote.

Noonan concluded by framing the issue as central to the election. 

“DuPage County voters deserve a sheriff who answers questions — not one who sends a lawyer to do it,” Noonan wrote. “Because when it comes to law enforcement, accountability isn’t optional. And neither is judgment.”

As Moore’s incident has drawn attention, he has lost several prominent endorsements, including from DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, DuPage County Board member Cindy Cronin Cahill and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso. 

After details of the incident surfaced, Moore was briefly placed on administrative leave from his role as DuPage County Undersheriff but later announced he had been reinstated. 

The incident follows a prior alcohol-related episode in 2021, when he pleaded guilty after being identified as the “primary aggressor” in a bar fight at a Wisconsin resort, with deputies noting he “showed signs of intoxication: bloodshot eyes, slurred speech.”