DuPage sheriff: Safer site needed for Downers Grove traffic court

DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba said Tuesday he agrees with a judge's concern about security at the Downers Grove traffic court and thinks an alternative site should be found.

He also is suggesting the county do an independent study examining safety at the three other satellite court locations.

“I believe in more security — not less — when it comes to protecting our judicial process,” Zaruba said to members of the DuPage County Board's finance committee.

Zaruba was presenting his department's proposed budget when he responded to DuPage Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell's call for increased security at all four traffic courts. Last week, Creswell said she's concerned for the safety of workers and visitors at the sites in Downers Grove, Addison, Glendale Heights and Wheaton.

DuPage has one sheriff's deputy assigned to each of the four traffic court locations, which are used by about 300 people daily.

While Zaruba didn't go into specifics about what security measures are in place, he said he agrees with Creswell that the Downers Grove field court — located in American Legion Post 80 on Saratoga Avenue — “is our most challenging.”

“The idea of operating this particular facility has been regularly discussed by my staff,” Zaruba said. “An alternative site for Downers Grove should be the first priority as we go forward.”

Meanwhile, a study could help officials determine what changes could be made to the other sites.

The Addison and Glendale Heights sites are in village halls and the Wheaton traffic court is in the county administration building at 421 N. County Farm Road.

Zaruba said he will make his staff available “to discuss any and all recommendations” by Creswell or the county board.

Officials have estimated it would cost an extra $1 million to $1.6 million annually to add two or three more deputies and a metal detector at each of the four traffic court sites. But there's been no board discussion about whether to pursue that idea.

Until a final decision is made, board member John Curran urged the sheriff's office to take temporary steps to beef up security.

“You are given resources — a tremendous amount of resources — in that area of court security,” Curran said to Zaruba. He said the sheriff's office needs to “double down” with the resources it already has “to make sure that situation is addressed and rectified.”