John Zaruba: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: WheatonWebsite: zarubaforsheriff2014.comOffice sought: DuPage County Sheriff Age: 63Family: Married to Mary since 1982 Children: Christopher, Shannon and PatrickOccupation: DuPage County SheriffEducation: Masters Degree: Lewis University- Criminal Justice Bachelors Degree: Western Ill University- Law Enforcement Administration Associate Degree: College of DuPage - Science Northwestern University 창#8364;#8220; Staff and Command National Sheriffs Institute 창#8364;#8220; Executive Course Federal Law Enforcement Academy Southern Police Academy Illinois Police Training Institute FBI/DEA/ATF/US MarshalCivic involvement: Civic involvement American Cancer Society Family Shelter Service Invest in Kids Partnership Against Hunger Dupage County Childrens' Center Board Dist 200 High School Safety Task Force School District 24 School Safety Task Force President-Lincoln School PTA Wheaton Park District Baseball Coach Marine Corps League Elks Club Special Olympics Shop with a Sheriff Fellowship of Christian Police Officers, Co-Founder, MemberElected offices held: Sheriff 창#8364;#8220; County of DuPage 1997 -PresentQuestions Answers Outline two initiatives you have for the sheriff's office.1. Problem - The suburban heroin epidemic is killing our children. Suburban heroin overdoses occur weekly. Initiatives: Undercover deputies Working with parents First-Step program Naloxone to save lives of overdose victims Jail inmate addiction treatment 2. Problem -The increasing incidence of violent domestic disputes, child abuse, and abuse of the elderly. Initiatives: The Sheriff's Office programs have had a positive impact on these issues which speaks to the need to maintain my leadership in these crucial areas: Created the Senior Services Unit Family Protection Unit In-house social worker Provides orders of protection Victim notification computer system 9-1-1 phones for victimsWhat steps can be taken to make the sheriff's office more efficient, both in terms of law enforcement and in terms of saving taxpayers money?The major portion of the Sheriff's Office Budget is the cost of personnel. However setting the pay of the deputies is governed by labor contracts between the deputies and the County Board, not the Sheriff. Law enforcement efficiencies come from strong supervision, and cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies including sharing intelligence and resources, and utilizing targeted task forces. The Jail accounts for more than 50% of the Budget. Housing an aging population of inmates is consuming a growing portion of the Budget and threatening to force cuts in other areas. Alternative sentencing such as SWAP become essential.What are your thoughts about reducing the size of the sheriff's patrol division and asking local police departments to patrol some unincorporated areas?This issue was studied in 2003 concluding: 1. Contracting would cost more money. 2. It would decrease the quality of service to all residents. In 2013 it was found that contracting is inefficient. The DuPage Sheriff employs 61 officers assigned to 105 square miles, or 0.58 deputies per mile. The DuPage municipal staffing average is 4.25 officers per mile. The Sheriff employs 0.62 deputies per 1,000 residents while the municipal average is 1.93 officers per 1,000 residents. The cost per capita for the Sheriff is $97.41. The municipal average is $379.75. No cost saving could be realized by contracting.What role should the sheriff's office play in the county's battle against heroin and other drugs?The Sheriff plays a significant role: By enforcement - using specially trained undercover deputies and working with other agencies. By education - speaking with parents and children about the dangers of heroin and offering the "First-Step" program to help parents identify early intervention. By providing treatment and education to those in the jail to attempt to end the cycle of addiction. By saving lives of people, many of them teens, who have overdosed on heroin. DuPage Deputies are equipped with Naloxone in an innovative program that is a model to other Sheriff's Offices throughout the State and Country.Does the sheriff's office have a responsibility to inform residents about serious crimes in a timely matter? How specifically could such communication be improved and what steps would you take to ensure that happens?There is a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the scene of any serious incident to ensure that all in the area are rendered safe and that the incident is investigated properly. As circumstances dictate the Sheriff's Office uses a variety of means to inform the local public: by going door-to-door to inform others, using Reverse 9-1-1 to call those in the area, Facebook notifications, Press releases, and implementing a Mobile App that can provide users with push notifications. We are also exploring other avenues of social media, such as Twitter, Uber Mobile, and Instagram.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Managing the Jail: housing an aging population of inmates is consuming an ever-larger portion of the Budget threatening to force significant budgetary and programmatic cuts to other components. Leading the office in an era of Budget constraints. Emerging technology 창#8364;#8220; there is complexity and uncertainty to the rules governing law enforcement's use of emerging surveillance technologies and the Sheriff must be prepared to adapt quickly to a fast-changing landscape of legal rules. Coordinating Among Law Enforcement Agencies: law enforcement agencies must coordinate and share intelligence, resources, and personnel. Enforcing against fraud and financial offenses, cyber-crimes and the victimization of seniors.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Gen. Joe Dunford, 36th commandant of the Marines. "He's calm under fire; he's tough; he's resolute -- he's unintimidated by any complex problem."What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My father died when I was 12. My Mother instilled the value of discipline in my personal and professional life.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wish I could share with my father the immense gratitude for the life skills he provided me.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History- As the world changes, it really evolves into new forms of the past. The past is then prologue. Knowing this makes one understand life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?There's no secret to success. Don't waste time looking for one. Success is the result of hard work, learning from your failures, loyalty and persistence.