Jan. 15--At his request, DuPage County officials are conducting an extensive audit of Sheriff John Zaruba's department, after months of tension between him and County Board members.
While DuPage officials audit the sheriff's department on a day-to-day basis through different county channels, including the treasury department, this review is likely the first time in which all of the sheriff's accounts will be examined simultaneously, said county auditor Bob Grogan.
"We've looked at every one of these accounts in the past," he said. "This is probably the first time we've looked at everything at the same time though."
Zaruba requested a review of his books in November. Both Grogan and sheriff's officials said the request was made before County Board Chairman Dan Cronin formally called for an audit of the department to answer questions about Zaruba's spending proposals for the county's 2016 spending plan.
Zaruba approached Grogan about the review after determining previous audits by third-party firms hadn't been as comprehensive as the sheriff desired, said sheriff's Chief James Kruse. Outside auditors, he said, tended to concentrate their efforts mostly on accounts with previous issues, to ensure those issues had been corrected.
"Once the sheriff received knowledge of this, he wanted (Grogan) to do a review, and make sure the sheriff's office is following best practices," Kruse said. "We absolutely are confident that it is."
Cronin called for an audit of Zaruba's department later in November during the county's budgeting process, because County Board members said they were in the dark about some of the department's most basic operations. They hadn't known whether the sheriff maintains an inventory of seized vehicles or details of which personnel have access to confidential databases, among other procedures.
At Tuesday's board meeting, Cronin encouraged County Board members to pass along information about the department's operations to Grogan, because "most of the reasons for this examination have been raised by all of us here."
"I am optimistic that the auditor will provide us with many of the answers we seek," Cronin told the board. "I also hope this process of opening the books and taking a deep dive will help the County Board and the sheriff's department discover new ways we can work together, streamline costs, and deliver the highest-quality public safety services to our citizens and taxpayers."
The audit will take at least a couple months to conduct, depending on what's discovered, Grogan said. Auditors will examine the sheriff's 15 separate bank accounts, including different investigative accounts, such as one that handles tens of millions of dollars in sheriff's sales on foreclosed houses. Auditors also will examine internal controls and fixed assets.
Grogan said this type of audit request happens all the time by numerous county departments. He compared the audit to a checkup, as people "don't always go to the doctor when they're sick."
"This is one of the reasons you have an independently elected auditor," he said. "I only answer to the citizens of DuPage County. Neutrality and objectivity is an important part of my office."
meltagouri@tribune.com
