About the Sheriff
Sheriff Zaruba is a lifelong resident of DuPage County. He has been a member of the DuPage County Sheriff's Office since 1974, was appointed Sheriff in April of 1997 and elected to the office in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 by the citizens of DuPage County. He has worked in all facets of the office, including corrections, court security, law enforcement, internal affairs, accreditation and planning and research.
Throughout the years Sheriff Zaruba has brought many innovative programs to the people of DuPage County including numerous countywide services and initiatives. As an advocate for crime victims, he implemented several victim assistance programs to protect victims of abuse and other violent crimes. He created the position of Neighborhood Liaison Officer to work directly with residents and address their needs. He also pioneered the Sheriff's Work Alternative Program (S.W.A.P) and the national award winning Sheriff's Work Camp which reduces offender recidivism. Office of Professional Standards and Conduct, the SR-22 Unit; the Community Resource Unit; and a media relations office. He began the Guardian and Cell Link programs to help ensure the safety of seniors citizen, and developed the idea behind the First Step program to assist parents who fear their child may be abusing drugs. Sheriff Zaruba also started SPEAR (Sexual Predator Enforcement, Apprehension and Registration team) a multi-jurisdictional team that regularly checks on sexual offenders living in the county to make sure they are complying with the Illinois Sex Offenders Registration Act. The Sheriff also implemented VINE and Offendertrack for DuPage County and initiated them statewide.
Education
Sheriff Zaruba has a Master's degree in criminal justice from Lewis University, a Bachelor's degree in law enforcement administration from Western Illinois University and an Associate of Science degree from the College of DuPage. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command, Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Institute and the National Sheriff's Institute.
The Sheriff also serves as the custodian of the courthouse and warden of the corrections facility, and heads the only county Crime Lab in the State of Illinois.
Community and Law Enforcement Partnerships
Sheriff Zaruba was awarded the Liberty Bell Award by the DuPage County Bar Association and was named "Illinois Law Enforcement Chief of the Year" in 1998 by the Illinois State Crime Commission.
In addition to his professional work, Sheriff Zaruba is actively involved in the leadership of several community organizations:
- College of DuPage Criminal Justice Advisory Board
- DuPage County Correctional Officer Academy
- State of Illinois Court Security Academy
- Suburban Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board
- Family Service Shelter Advisory Board
- Family Service Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence Advisory Board
- Partnership Against Hunger - DuPage County Bar Association
- Multiple School Violence task forces
He is also involved in many professional organizations including:
- National Sheriff's Association, past President
- Illinois Sheriff's Association, past President
- Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, Chairman Region 4
- International Association of Chief's of Police
- International Narcotics Enforcement Association
- International Association of Court Security Officers
- DuPage County Chief's of Police
- American Correctional Association
- Illinois Chiefs of Police Association
- Illinois Homeland Security Task Force