Recently retired DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott got a standing ovation for sharing his career experiences with the Rotary Club of Sycamore this week. He left office at the end of June following a 52-year career with the department, serving as sheriff since 1985.
Scott said he first had serious interest in a law enforcement career at age 12 because his older brother, Wilbur, became a deputy sheriff (his brother would eventually serve as sheriff prior to Roger). Scott began his career working a combined radio/jailer job after serving in the Air Force. He said there were 22 people in the department at the time; now there are 102. He became the first K-9 police dog handler for the county and made frequent public appearances including the Sycamore Pumpkinfest Parade. When the appointment process opened to fill the sheriff’s vacancy in 1985, Scott said there were two candidates under consideration with neither getting enough support and he became the compromise candidate. He called the sheriff’s job a team effort to make the county a safe place for all residents.
Scott referenced several important milestones during his career. These included creating the sheriff’s Citizen Academy to bring greater department awareness to residents, establishment of the countywide 9-1-1 emergency phone service, and expansion of the county jail (which he credited for helping the county get through the Covid-19 pandemic without any inmates infected). He noted the sobering impact of the 1986 kidnap/murder case of seven-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk and the 2016 double murder of Patricia Wilson and her son, Robert.
Scott called it “an honor” to have served as sheriff for 36 years and being reelected by the voters. Acknowledging that law enforcement faces some current image challenges, Scott says he expects things to bounce back as officers focus on serving and protecting citizens. Scott will now be spending more time with his wife and their adopted and foster children. During his career, the Scotts have cared for 45 foster children and adopted seven children with the Sheriff saying it was his wife who managed most family responsibilities while he was working.
Thank you, Sheriff Scott, for your dedicated service.