Merit Board Decisions

The Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board (“the Board”), consisting of nine (9) members, was established in conformance with the provisions of Chapter 55 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (55 ILCS 5/3-7002). The Board is an independent body which exercises purely statutory powers.

The Board has statutory authority to conduct hearings on disciplinary matters involving Police Officers, Police Sergeants, Police Lieutenants, Correctional Officers, Correctional Sergeants, Correctional Lieutenants, Correctional Captains, Deputy Sheriffs, Deputy Sergeants and Deputy Lieutenants subsequent to their one (1) year probationary period. The Board’s jurisdiction applies when the Sheriff files written charges requesting demotion in rank or removal from service.¹

The Board, after hearing written charges pursuant to their authority in Chapter 55 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, may upon the finding of the charges being proven order any of the following disciplinary measures as prescribed in 55 ILCS 5/3-7012: (1) Removal from service; (2) Demotion in rank; (3) Suspension for a period not to exceed a total of one hundred and eighty (180) days; (4) Or any other such sanctions prescribed by the Rules and Regulations of the Board which in the opinion of the members thereof the offense(s) may merit.

The Board’s Final Decisions are subject to change pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law (735 ILCS 5/3-101 et seq.). For additional information, please see the Rules and Regulations of the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board.

Decisions issued by the Board are listed below.

¹Prior to the amendment of 55 ILCS 5/3 on August 17, 2018, the Sheriff could also file written charges requesting disciplinary suspensions in excess of thirty (30) days.

Warning – Graphic Images and Explicit Language

For examples of incidents of individual in custody battery against
Cook County Jail staff, click here.

Sustained Sheriff’s Investigations Pending with Merit Board

Final Merit Board Decisions