Lake Co. sheriff candidate sued four times for civil rights violations

Lake County Sheriff candidate John Krempotic said the decision to settle instead of defend four civil rights lawsuits filed against him when he worked as a deputy was made because his former boss wanted him fired.

During a Daily Herald endorsement interview, Krempotic said former Sheriff Gary Del Re told Lake County prosecutors to settle the four lawsuits without going to trial because he wanted Krempotic forced out of the sheriff's office.

Del Re did not return repeated calls asking for comment. But Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said the county settled the lawsuits filed in 2003 and 2004 because there was no defense for Krempotic's actions.

"The decision to defend the lawsuit is made by the state's attorney, not the sheriff," Waller said. "And, the reason the case was settled is because there was no defense for the actions of John Krempotic. Had the cases gone to trial, there would have been much larger verdicts against the county because of his behavior."

Krempotic is running against Waukegan defense attorney Douglas Roberts in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary. The winner will take on incumbent Republican Mark Curran of Vernon Hills in the November general election.

Krempotic was sued for civil rights violations four times by six people while working as a Lake County Sheriff's deputy in 2003 and 2004. The total payout by the county to settle the lawsuits in 2005 was $260,000.

Three people filed two of the lawsuits against Krempotic in 2003 after he allegedly helped a friend file a false police report. Then, in 2004, three other people filed two additional lawsuits after Krempotic allegedly broke into a home to administer a field sobriety test to two girls he claimed looked intoxicated and underage.

The first two lawsuits were settled out of court for a total of $180,000. The second two were settled for a total of $80,000.

Krempotic said he left the department in 2005 after the last lawsuit was settled, opting to accept disability until his retirement started in 2007.

Krempotic said he believes the lawsuits could have been defended by the sheriff's office and the Lake County state's attorney's office. He charged Del Re used the lawsuits as retaliation to get him fired after unionized sheriff deputies voted against supporting Del Re during the 2002 election.

"I felt all along I was the target of retribution by former Sheriff Gary Del Re," Krempotic told Daily Herald editorial board members. "Cases like that are very defendable when you have evidence in plain view. ... But the state's attorney's office followed what the sheriff wanted to do, and wouldn't prosecute, thereby leaving me open for civil action."

Krempotic added he could not discuss details about the lawsuits due to a nondisclosure agreement he signed.

When contacted Wednesday and told of Waller's statements, Krempotic said Waller wasn't present during the incidents.

"I stand behind the decisions I made while serving as a deputy (with the Lake County Sheriff's Office)," he said.