advertisement

Cronin wants to talk with sheriff about DuPage budget

With the DuPage County Board two weeks away from voting on a budget, Chairman Dan Cronin wants Sheriff John Zaruba to provide answers about his department's operations, including details about its Explorer program, an inventory of seized vehicles and the cost of having cameras in squad cars.

"The information is essential," Cronin said on Tuesday night. "I can't responsibly pass this budget without answers to these questions."

Whether the county's top cop will respond remains to be seen.

Zaruba hasn't communicated with Cronin since sending a September letter voicing displeasure with the county's proposed $443.8 million budget for the 2016 fiscal year, which starts Dec. 1.

The budget plan - which board members are scheduled to consider on Nov. 24 - would increase the sheriff's department's annual spending from roughly $40.4 million to about $40.8 million. But the office is expected to have its authorized full-time head count cut by 10 positions to 520 employees. The county also isn't planning to buy replacement squad cars next year.

Zaruba wrote in a Sept. 18 letter to Cronin that the proposed budget "will not only reduce my ability to perform my statutory duties, it will dilute my ability to perform any critical supportive public safety function."

Still, Cronin says Zaruba is refusing to meet with him to talk about the budget.

"It's incredibly frustrating that I have a countywide elected official that will not communicate," Cronin said.

So in a letter sent Monday, Cronin is asking Zaruba to provide the following:

• Policy, procedure, budget and staffing information for the sheriff's Explorer program, which educates 14- to 20-year-olds about law enforcement. Cronin wants to know the number of participants, the activities they do and the liability and/or risk management costs associated with the program.

• An inventory of vehicles seized by the sheriff's office, and copies of the policies and procedures governing those vehicles.

• Copies of policies and procedures meant to prevent inappropriate access to confidential databases.

• Information about video cameras in the department's squad cars, including the initial cost of the equipment and the annual maintenance cost.

In addition, Cronin is asking Zaruba to allow for an internal audit of money that isn't subject to county board oversight.

"Specifically, please provide a detailed accounting of the Drug Traffic Prevention and Drug Traffic Seizure Accounts from 2010 forward," Cronin wrote. "How are assets seized during drug interdiction activities secured? What is the ultimate disposition of seized property? What activities and expenses are supported by these funds?"

Zaruba didn't attend the Tuesday night board meeting where it was announced that Cronin's letter had been sent. Attempts to reach Zaruba after the meeting were unsuccessful.

Because Zaruba is a countywide elected official, he gets the final say on how he spends his budget.

Still, Cronin is requesting that Zaruba respond to his questions by early next week.

"We're just asking him to do his job," he said.

John Zaruba
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.