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 committee, “This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my short life.” He also described growing private donations and short‑term grants that have helped pay charitable expenses for families; Van Laar said the program’s receipts included an initial $4,500 award and, since then, about $16,000 in private donations.

Sheriff Dez said the department already relies on Van Laar and would treat the role as a part‑time county employee, not a vendor. “A starting wage is what a starting deputy would start at. Like $34.12 an hour is what a deputy starts at,” the sheriff said, adding that the department expects the position to be paid only for hours worked and to use standard payroll and timekeeping procedures. The sheriff told the committee he expects Van Laar to submit time cards and be approved through normal supervisory channels; mileage would not be reimbursed and the chaplain would continue to use his personal vehicle.

Committee members asked about safeguards and scope. Tom Walsh asked whether a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the chaplain role has been completed; Van Laar and the sheriff said an SOP exists for the chaplaincy but it needs to be expanded to cover the proposed duties. Staff member Melissa responded to administrative questions, saying, “No, my team is fine with it,” when asked about internal processes, and confirmed a job description should be finalized and placed on file. One committee member raised that pay structure could be call‑out based with mileage; another asked that the item be reviewed by the county’s 708 board (the body that oversees certain mental health contracts and access) before final action because of the mental‑health‑adjacent nature of the work.

The sheriff told the committee the department plans to fund the position within its current budget by using surplus from reduced staffing levels and would bring any future pay increases back to the committee for consideration. The proposed classification is “crisis intervention/chaplain,” the sheriff said, and would be a part‑time position without benefits. The committee did not record a vote on the proposal in the provided transcript; earlier in the meeting the committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes by motion (mover: Mike; seconder: Kathy) with a voice vote and the chair said, “Motion carried.”

Next steps referenced in the discussion included finalizing a job description and SOP language, tracking hours through normal payroll procedures, potential review by the 708 board, and further committee consideration. The transcript ends with a call for a second on the motion to proceed; no final committee decision is recorded in the provided excerpt.