421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Sheriff's Merit Commission  
Meeting Minutes 2  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Thursday, September 12, 2024  
8:30 AM  
Room 3500A  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Chairman Reyes.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Upon roll call, Chairman Reyes and Commissioner Kachiroubas were present. Commissioner  
Gravina was absent.  
Staff members in attendance: Paul Bruckner (Assistant State's Attorney), Undersheriff Moore  
(Sheriff's Office), Chief Garcia (Sheriff's Office), Deputy Chief Bilodeau (Sheriff's Office),  
Deputy Chief Swanson (Sheriff's Office), Megan Kupiszewski (Sheriff's Office), Lindsey Stern  
(Sheriff's Office), Nikki Zbilski (Sheriff's Office), Debbie Krygowski (Merit Commission  
Assistant)  
3.  
4.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comment was offered.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
a.  
Regular Meeting Minutes from August 1, 2024, August 15, 2024  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to approve  
Regular Meeting Minutes from August 1, 2024, and August 15, 2024. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Special Meeting Minutes from August 22, 2024  
b.  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to approve Special  
Meeting Minutes from August 15, 2024. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Executive Session Minutes from August 1, 2024, August 15, 2024, and August 22, 2024  
c.  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to approve  
Executive Session Minutes from August 1, 2024; August 15, 2024; and August 22, 2024. Roll  
call vote: all ayes.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
5.  
OLD BUSINESS  
a.  
Budget Status  
Ms. Krygowski presented the current Revenues and Expenditures Report.  
b.  
Bills Payable  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to approve the  
9/12/24 Bills Payable list. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
c.  
Candidate Status  
Ms. Krygowski reviewed the current status of candidates in the testing and application process.  
6.  
NEW BUSINESS  
a.  
2024 Corrections Exam Candidate Questions  
Ms. Krygowski shared a request from a deputy who was unable to register for the October 5th  
promotional exam on time due to a planned vacation and unforeseen illness. The Commission  
instructed Ms. Krygowski to find out more information about why the registration could not be  
completed. Ms. Krygowski was informed of the reason for the delay and shared with the  
Commissioners later in the meeting. The Commissioners agreed to allow this deputy to take the  
entrance exam.  
Ms. Krygowski had also received another request for an alternate promotional testing date from a  
deputy unable to attend on October 5th. The Commissioners granted this request.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Changes in Background Investigation Process  
b.  
Chairman Reyes inquired about the status of Kalkman Investigation & Research. Ms. Krygowski  
related that they would be completing the current background investigations and would no longer  
be accepting new cases. Discussion.  
Undersheriff Moore shared that the Sheriff's Office is ready to take over the background  
investigation process. Deputy Chief Bilodeau shared that he and Deputy Chief Swanson have  
already begun conducting background investigations and interviews of lateral applicants and will  
be streamlining the process to include more in-depth background information that private  
investigators cannot access. Two recently retired detectives will also be working as special  
investigators on a contractual basis. Some candidates background investigations will be  
suspended due to disqualifying factors. Discussion.  
c.  
Medical and Psychological Testing for Future Employees  
Discussion on the timing of medical and psychological testing for applicants. The Sheriff's  
Office will be sending candidates for psychological evaluations prior to their certification by the  
Commission.  
d.  
Revamping the Deputy Hiring Process  
The Sheriff's Office would like to begin conducting entrance exams and doing a one-day testing  
process where the entrance exam is held in-person and graded on-site. Candidates who pass the  
entrance exam would have their fingerprints taken that same day. Law Enforcement applicants  
would also take a POWER test after passing the written exam. Discussion.  
Deputy Chief Bilodeau, Deputy Chief Swanson, Megan Kupiszewski, and Nikki Zbilski left the  
room at 9:14 a.m.  
e.  
Legislative Update  
Paul Bruckner shared that he will be preparing a resolution amending the Rules and Regulations  
based on a new law that states that veterans must be given an opportunity to take an entrance  
exam within six months of their discharge from active duty. Discussion.  
f.  
Request for Proposals - Background Investigator  
Chairman Reyes instructed Ms. Krygowski to work with Procurement to complete an RFP for  
background investigation services to conduct a large amount of background investigations within  
a short time-frame.  
7.  
8.  
REPORT FROM SHERIFF'S OFFICE  
Discussion on the staffing levels among deputies. The main concern at this time is maintaining  
staffing levels at the jail; Corrections has the biggest need for deputies.  
Paul Bruckner, Undersheriff Moore, Chief Garcia, and Lindsey Stern left the room.  
EXECUTIVE SESSION  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to enter into  
Executive Session. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
a.  
Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act for the appointment,  
compensation, performance, discipline, or dismissal of a specific employee, one-on-one  
interviews.  
The Commission entered into Executive Session at 9:32 a.m.  
The Commission returned to Open Session at 10:03 a.m.  
9.  
MATTERS TO BE REFERRED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION (IF ANY)  
a.  
Action on the certification of candidates subject to one-on-one interviews on September  
12, 2024.  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to certify Lateral  
Transfer to Corrections candidate 2223. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to certify Lateral  
Transfer to Law Enforcement candidate 2224. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to certify Law  
Enforcement candidate 2708. Roll call vote: all ayes.  
Candidate 2802 was a no-show.  
10.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Commissioner Kachiroubas moved and Chairman Reyes seconded the motion to adjourn. Voice  
vote: all ayes.  
Meeting was adjourned at 10:07 a.m.