In Zaruba's 14 years as sheriff, he's largely avoided scandal while modernizing and professionalizing the 550-member office in ways that have gained national accreditation.

But to pursue and keep his job, Zaruba's political fundraising has stayed old-school.

While he was second-in-command at the agency, Zaruba began his political fund. By the time his boss retired nine months later, Zaruba had raised $34,000 to keep the job to which county leaders appointed him. The new sheriff vowed to raise far more.

"I'm a law-enforcement officer and I'm not a politician," he told reporters at the time, "but I understand that I have to play that game."

At last count, he was banking $258,000, and he's raised some of that by turning to those whose jobs he helps control. Zaruba has collected more than $100,000 from at least 89 sworn employees in the last eight years, according to a Tribune analysis of campaign and employment data. And that doesn't count the smaller donations that can't be tracked.

Donors who gave less than $150 every six months by law did not have to be disclosed. Those smaller, undocumented donations made up a fourth of the amount Zaruba raised.

But Reyes said he doesn't believe anyone's arm is "getting twisted for promotions or anything. We're not Cook County here."

Actually, DuPage County has surpassed Cook, according to itemized contributions.

The Tribune compared contributors' identities to a list of sworn personnel at each of the six area sheriff's offices.

The analysis found that 24 percent of Zaruba's itemized contributions came from his officers, not counting civilian employees or the employees' relatives.



Zaruba's rate is 1 in 10.





But Illinois has no such ban.


Petitions and stakeouts