LaSalle County committee reviews creating part‑time crisis intervention/chaplain position for sheriff's office

On Feb. 26, 2025, the LaSalle County Salary and Labor Committee received a proposal from Sheriff Dez to create a part‑time “crisis intervention/chaplain” position to compensate Chaplain Dave Van Laar for work he has performed on a volunteer basis since 2022. The sheriff proposed a starting hourly rate equal to an entry deputy’s pay, $34.12 per hour, capped at roughly 20–24 hours per week and funded from department surplus created by staffing reductions. A motion to move forward was made but no recorded second or committee vote appears in the transcript.

The proposal centers on formalizing work Van Laar said he has performed in the field: staying with families after deaths, helping secure emergency hotel rooms, coordinating immediate material needs such as diapers and clothing, and providing point‑of‑contact support for deputies at scenes. Chaplain Dave Van Laar told the…