Don’t reduce sheriff’s patrols

Don’t reduce sheriff’s patrols

On Aug. 27 I attended a DuPage County Board Judicial Public Safety meeting where the sheriff’s department budget request was being reviewed. As a taxpayer I appreciated the scrutiny of the county department that has the largest share of the county budget.

With an eye on cutting cost the JPS committee was suggesting that the sheriff’s department look into relinquishing some of their patrolled unincorporated areas to adjoining municipalities.

Sheriff John Zaruba responded with a presentation showing that his department operates more efficiently than municipal law enforcement and that his responsibility was with the taxpayers, supplying efficient services. The sheriff was steadfast that he would not give up that responsibility.

As a resident of unincorporated DuPage County, I want it to stay that way. Many of us unincorporated residents chose it over living in municipalities because of less restrictions and lower living cost.

I applaud Sheriff John Zaruba’s service as an elected official.

The sheriff’s department has served us well patrolling an area of 105 square miles with 61 sheriff’s deputies responding to emergency calls averaging less than 5 minutes. The sheriff’s 61 deputies are also out there assisting municipal officers on emergency calls when warranted.

Any attempt at replacing sheriff’s deputy patrols with adjoining municipal law enforcement would likely lead to attempts at annexation of these unincorporated areas by adjoining municipalities, along with a large increase in property taxes.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Paula McGowen

Glen Ellyn