Zaruba fires back at criticism from DuPage chairman

DuPage Sheriff John Zaruba fired back Monday against claims by county board Chairman Dan Cronin that he's been unresponsive to questions about his department and proposed budget.

"We have at all times been responsive, available and truthful in our relationship with you and the board," Zaruba wrote in a letter to Cronin. "It is too bad it has become a one-sided relationship with the exception of (county board) member (Pete) DiCianni."

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

The budget plan, which board members are scheduled to consider next week, 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 body cameras or replace squad cars next year.

Cronin said Zaruba refused to participate in the budget process.

"It's his job to participate," Cronin said. "It's not my job to get him over to the (administration) building and come to hearings and meetings."

But in his Monday letter to Cronin, Zaruba says DiCianni was the only member of the 18-person county board to reach out to his office during budget discussions. He said he wasn't invited to budget meetings to talk about the spending proposal before or after Cronin unveiled it.

Zaruba also criticized Cronin for telling reporters he's been unavailable.

"A leader should lead and not use the media as their bully pulpit," Zaruba wrote.

If Cronin wants to talk, Zaruba said all he needs to do is call him or stop by his office. He said the sheriff's department and the county administration building "are only a football field away."

"I am here," he wrote. "Where are you?"

Cronin responded by saying he would be "happy" to walk over and meet with Zaruba.

"If that's what it takes, I'll go over there," Cronin said. "But what he's missing is the point."

Cronin said Zaruba has a responsibility to the taxpayers to respond to questions about his budget during public meetings and hearings.

"It's an ongoing conversation," said Cronin, adding that other countywide elected officials had discussions with county board members about their spending requests.

"My guess is the sheriff longs for the days of yesteryear when he could sit down with former county board chairmen and - with a wink and nod - they'd cut a deal and have a budget," Cronin said. "I don't do business that way. I don't think anybody should do business that way these days. That's a thing of the past. You have to be out and participate in a public discussion."

In the meantime, Cronin said he is reviewing the answers and the 258 pages of supporting documents Zaruba provided in response to a list of questions about the department's operations, including details about its Explorer program, an inventory of seized vehicles and the cost of having cameras in squad cars.

For example, Zaruba said no taxpayer money is used to fund the Explorer program. He also said his department has 25 seized vehicles, included seven that are "in limited use."

Zaruba also provided details about the department's use of video cameras in squad cars. He said the cameras "have been an indispensable tool in gathering evidence for prosecution, assisting in the accurate writing of reports, and ensuring personnel are conducting law enforcement activities in accordance with established general orders."