DeKalb County Sheriff’s Merit Commission met Feb. 25.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
The Merit Commission met in the Sheriff’s Conference Room at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
I. Call to Order
Todd Walker called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners present at the meeting were: Commissioners Todd Walker and Van Bomar. Also present was Sheriff Andy Sullivan and Lt. Erin McRoberts.
III. Approval of Agenda
Todd Walker called for a motion to approve the agenda. Van Bomar moved and Todd Walker seconded. All were in favor. No opposition. Agenda was approved.
IV. Approval of Minutes
Minutes from the previous meeting held 11/12/2025 were reviewed by Commissioners. Todd Walker called for approval of those minutes. Motion for approval was made by Van Bomar and seconded by Todd Walker. All were in favor. No opposition. The minutes from 11/12/25 were approved.
V. Public Comment
Though it was an open public meeting, no audience was present.
VI. Correspondence
None other than Commissioner mileage sheet.
VII. Old Business – Sheriff Sullivan advised the Commission that since the last meeting we have had one termination in Corrections, one resignation in telecommunications and one retirement in telecommunications and that was the reason for the interviews today so we could get our list up and going. Sheriff Sullivan advised since the last meeting we have also hired (3) for Corrections; Thavone, Macedo, and Wagner. Sheriff Sullivan advised we have (2) openings in telecommunications.
Sheriff Sullivan asked the commissioners if they had thought any more about modifying the testing requirement for the Lieutenant’s position to become an appointed position rather than a merit testing position. Both Todd Walker and Van Bomar were in agreement that would be in the best interest of the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Sullivan advised we have no movement at this time but would work on finding sample language for the commission to review.
VIII. New Business – Sheriff advised last week the county board approved an allocation for an additional patrol position for the Sheriff’s Office. The position is funded by DCFS and we would have an investigator assigned to the DCFS office in DeKalb and would assist DCFS case workers when they go on home visits and would assist with investigations. Sheriff Sullivan asked the commission for a lateral hire for that position as well as a lateral request for Telecommunications. The applicant in question lives in Elburn and works at QuadCom in Carpentersville. This applicant has passed the background but is pending the successful completion of the psychological and polygraph exams. Todd Walker made the motion to hire the lateral pending the successful completion of the exams. Van Bomar seconded. All were in favor. No opposition. Motion passed.
The second lateral request is for the patrol position. This applicant has previously been on our eligibility list. He went through the process and we were going to hire him but he initially did not pass the psychological. He has since been hired by Mount Prospect PD. Additionally this applicant is married to a corrections deputies daughter. In the Merit Commission rules under “Appointments” it states “spouses parents”. Sheriff Sullivan asked if the commission would consider removing the words “spouses parents” from that section. Sheriff Sullivan confirmed this would not be a supervisory role. Todd Walker advised he thought new laws state you cannot hold any relative against an applicant if it is not in a supervisory role. Todd Walker and Van Bomar were in favor of the lateral hire and updating the language. Van Bomar made the motion to remove the words “spouses parents” from the rules. Todd Walker seconded the motion. All were in favor. No opposition. Motion passed. Van Bomar made the motion to approval the lateral hire request pending the successful completion of the psychological exam. Todd Walker seconded. All were in favor. No opposition. Motion passed.
IX. Executive Session – Applicant Interviews
Todd Walker asked for a motion to go into executive session for the purpose Applicant Interviews. Van Bomar made the motion, Todd Walker seconded the motion. All were in favor, motion passed. The Commission adjourned into executive session to conduct applicant interviews. Todd Walker, Van Bomar, Sheriff Andy Sullivan and Lt. Erin McRoberts were present. Sheriff Sullivan would be leaving shortly into executive session.
The interview process for applicants was concluded. Todd Walker, Van Bomar and, Lt. Erin McRoberts were present. With no other executive session matters to discuss, Todd Walker asked for a motion to return to regular session. Van Bomar made the motion, Todd Walker seconded, no opposition, motion passed. The Commission returned to regular session.
X. Adjournment
Todd Walker called for a motion to adjourn. Van Bomar made the motion which was seconded by Todd Walker. All were in favor. There was no opposition, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08pm.
https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/minutes-smc-02252026.pdf
