421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Judicial and Public Safety Committee  
Final Summary  
Tuesday, April 18, 2023  
8:00 AM  
County Board Room  
1.  
2.  
CALL TO ORDER  
8:00 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Lucy Evans at 8:02 AM.  
ROLL CALL  
Other Board Members present: Member Kari Galassi, Member Paula Garcia and Member Sheila  
Rutledge.  
Staff in attendance: Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer), Joan Olson (Chief  
Communications Officer), Robert Berlin (State's Attorney), Conor McCarthy (State's Attorney  
Office), Paul Bruckner (State's Attorney Office), Lisa Smith (State's Attorney Office), Barb  
Reynolds (State's Attorney Office), Jeff York (Public Defender), Craig Dieckman (Director,  
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management), Jason Blumenthal (Policy and  
Program Manager), Evan Shields (County Board Public Information Officer), Jeff Martynowicz  
(Chief Financial Officer), Valerie Calvente (Procurement), Claire Dragovich (Director, Crime  
Laboratory), James Mendrick (Sheriff), Edmond Moore (Undersheriff), Robert Carroll (Sheriff's  
Office Public Information Officer), Jim Gunther (Westmont Police Chief and Chairman of  
MERIT Board of Directors) and members of the MERIT Executive Team.  
Chaplin, Childress, DeSart, Eckhoff, Evans, Gustin, Krajewski,  
Ozog, Schwarze, Tornatore, Zay, and Yoo  
PRESENT  
3.  
4.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comment was offered.  
CHAIR REMARKS - Chair Evans  
Chair Evans introduced Jim Gunther, Westmont Police Chief and Chair of the Board of Directors  
of MERIT (Metropolitan Emergency Response Investigations Team) and members of the  
MERIT team. She then invited Chief Gunther to deliver his MERIT presentation to the  
Committee.  
5.  
PRESENTATION  
5.A. MERIT (Metropolitan Emergency Response Investigations Team) - Westmont Police  
Chief Jim Gunther  
Jim Gunther, Chairman of MERIT and Westmont Police Chief, presented to the Committee an  
overview of MERIT which is a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of 36 DuPage County  
agencies. MERIT, which has been in existence for almost four years, is the only task force of its  
kind and is comprised of specially trained law enforcement officers. It is a collaboration of three  
Operations Sections: Tactical, Special and Investigative. Included within these three sections  
are 14 specific areas of expertise. Chairman Gunther briefly explained each of these areas. He  
then went on to inform the Committee of some upcoming changes within MERIT's command  
structure. Chief Gunther stressed the importance of shared services and interoperability which  
results in the County's law enforcement agencies working very well together.  
At this time, State's Attorney Robert Berlin shared information on how MERIT, since it's  
inception in August of 2019, has made an impact in assisting his office with prosecuting cases.  
Chairman Gunther then spoke briefly about MERIT's two Bearcat vehicles and the recent  
dedication of them. In addition, he mentioned that a Command Vehicle is currently being built  
and upon completion will be added to their fleet.  
In closing, Chairman Gunther thanked the Committee for inviting him to speak today.  
Questions were asked by Members DeSart, Chaplin and Ozog to which Chairman Gunther  
responded.  
Following the presentation, Chair Evans recognized two members of the MERIT team who have  
recently retired: Roselle Police Chief and MERIT Treasurer Steve Herron along with Law  
Enforcement Bureau Chief Robert Toerpe from the DuPage County Sheriff's Office. She  
thanked them both for their dedication to public safety.  
At this time, Chair Evans and Member Grant Eckhoff presented each of the MERIT team  
members with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Chair Deborah Conroy to recognize  
their contributions to enhancing the quality of life for all DuPage County residents through their  
collaborative efforts. Those receiving awards included: Chairman Jim Gunther, Westmont  
Police Chief; Vice-Chairman Brian Cunningham, Woodridge Police Chief; Immediate Past  
Chairman Ray Turano, Warrenville Police Chief (Ret.); Secretary Bill Holmer, Carol Stream  
Police Chief; Treasurer Tim Roberts, Wayne Police Chief; DuPage County Sheriff James  
Mendrick; DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin; DuPage Chiefs Liaison John Madden,  
Burr Ridge Police Chief; MERIT Coordinator Dan Bilodeau, Deputy Chief - DuPage County  
Sheriff's Office; Deputy Coordinator-Investigative Operations Tom Stefanson, Woodridge  
Deputy Police Chief; Deputy Coordinator-Special Operations Joe Grage, Lombard Deputy Police  
Chief and Deputy Coordinator-Tactical Operations Colin Fleury, West Chicago Police Chief.  
6.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  
6.A.  
23-1552  
Judicial and Public Safety Committee Minutes - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, April 4,  
2023  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED  
Jim Zay  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Patty Gustin  
SECONDER:  
7.  
PROCUREMENT REQUISITIONS  
7.A.  
JPS-P-0052-23  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Trinity Services Group,  
Inc., to provide meals for the inmates and officers in the jail, for the Sheriff's Office, for  
the period of June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024, for a contract total amount of  
$1,225,031; per RFP #23-026-SHF. (Sheriff's Office)  
Members Zay, DeSart and Krajewski asked questions regarding why there were not more  
vendors bidding on this contract. Valerie Calvente from Procurement responded.  
Member DeSart inquired whether or not Trinity Services Group had a backup plan in the  
event they are not able to provide services. Ms. Calvente confirmed that Trinity does  
have a backup plan in place. Chair Evans further commented that DuPage County has  
had the same contract for the last four years. In that time, the cost per meal has increased  
which she attributes to inflation, labor shortages and an increase in the inmate population.  
Policy and Program Manager Jason Blumenthal then informed the Committee that this is  
a not to exceed contract and may possibly come in under the total amount of the contract.  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Mary Ozog  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Patty Gustin  
SECONDER:  
8.  
BUDGET TRANSFERS  
8.A.  
23-1553  
Transfer of funds from account no. 1000-4402-53090 (other professional services) to  
account no. 1000-4402-52000 (furniture/machinery/equipment small value) in the  
amount of $5,000 for the purchase of 44 chairs for the Crisis Intervention Training room.  
(Sheriff's Office)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED  
Jim Zay  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
23-1554  
Liz Chaplin  
8.B.  
Transfer of funds from account no. 1000-6300-50000 (regular salaries) to account no.  
1000-6300-50050 (temporary salaries) in the amount of $70,300 for additional temporary  
legal intern’s salaries for the Spring and Summer. (Public Defender’s Office)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED  
Mary Ozog  
Yeena Yoo  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
23-1555  
8.C.  
Transfer of funds from account nos. 5000-6192-50000 (regular salaries),  
5000-6192-51010 (employer share IMRF), and 5000-6192-51030 (employer share social  
security) to account nos. 5000-6192-51040 (employee medical and hospital insurance),  
5000-6192-53070 (medical services), 5000-6192-52000 (furniture/machinery/equipment  
small value), 5000-6192-52200 (operating supplies and materials), and 5000-6192-53830  
(other contractual expenses) in the amount of $10,618 to offset salaries and benefits to  
cover the increased cost of treatment services, for furniture and small equipment,  
operating supplies, and other contractual expenses to line up with the grant budget  
supplemental funding per the grant authority, per Activity Code 192301. (Probation and  
Court Services)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED  
Jim Zay  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Liz Chaplin  
SECONDER:  
9.  
GRANTS  
9.A.  
23-1556  
GPN-021-23: FY23 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction  
(CEBR) Program – US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance - $395,280.  
(Sheriff's Office)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
RESULT:  
Liz Chaplin  
Jim Zay  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
10.  
TRAVEL  
10.A.  
23-1557  
Authorization is requested for one Coordinator from the DuPage Office of Homeland  
Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) to attend an all-day workshop on April  
26, 2023 hosted by the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) to issue and  
train on new equipment. DuPage OHSEM is the host agency for ILEAS communications  
assets ITECS 4. ILEAS is providing lodging for this Coordinator on the night prior to the  
workshop. Breakfast is included at the hotel and ILEAS is providing lunch during the  
workshop. Other than gas reimbursement in the amount of $50, there is no cost to  
DuPage County. (Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED AT COMMITTEE  
Liz Chaplin  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
23-1558  
Brian Krajewski  
10.B.  
Authorization is requested for one Reservist from the DuPage Office of Homeland  
Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) to attend an all-day workshop on April  
26, 2023 hosted by the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) to issue and  
train on new equipment. DuPage OHSEM is the host agency for ILEAS communications  
assets ITECS 4. ILEAS is providing lodging for this Reservist on the night prior to the  
workshop. Breakfast is included at the hotel and ILEAS is providing lunch during the  
workshop. There is no cost to DuPage County. (Office of Homeland Security and  
Emergency Management)  
Member Zay asked why it was necessary for these two travel requests to appear on the  
agenda. Policy and Program Manager Jason Blumenthal and Member Chaplin responded  
that the travel policy is currently being reviewed.  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED AT COMMITTEE  
Liz Chaplin  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jim Zay  
SECONDER:  
11.  
INFORMATIONAL  
11.A.  
23-1559  
Public Defender's Office March 2023 Monthly Statistical Report (Public Defender's  
Office)  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE  
RESULT:  
Jim Zay  
MOVER:  
Liz Chaplin  
SECONDER:  
12.  
13.  
14.  
OLD BUSINESS  
No old business was offered.  
NEW BUSINESS  
No new business was offered.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 AM. The next meeting is scheduled  
for Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 8:00 A.M.