Committee members press for answers after newspaper allegation and jail medication complaints

At the DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting on July 7, Member Desartes raised a newspaper report alleging the DuPage County sheriff retaliated against a sergeant over a bias-complaint lawsuit and pressed for greater transparency and oversight.

"DuPage County sheriff retaliated against sergeant over bias complaint lawsuit," Desartes read from the article and said he did not appreciate learning about the allegations through the press. He asked several questions, including how much the sheriff's office has cost taxpayers in lawsuits over the last four or five years and requested an investigation into medication distribution in the jail, noting the committee had received emails alleging medication was withheld.

Member Krejewski suggested the county risk manager prepare a report listing potential lawsuits and claims so all board members could track outstanding matters. The finance department representative said risk management is handled by finance and offered to compile claims, workers' compensation and liability information over the past five years and provide quarterly claim reviews. "We can provide any update you need on outstanding claims for any department," the finance representative said.

Member Eckhart asked whether the review could go back further than five years; the finance representative said they would start with five years and could continue further if requested.

The committee did not take formal disciplinary or investigatory action during the meeting. Direction from the discussion: finance/risk staff will compile claims information and report back to the committee; additional steps, including any formal investigation into the newspaper allegations or jail medication practices, were not specified at the meeting.

The committee then moved on to remaining agenda items and adjourned.