Sycamore city officials to name street after retiring DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott

SYCAMORE – The Sycamore City Council will vote during their Monday meeting whether to rename a street on the DeKalb County government campus after the county’s soon-to-be-retired sheriff of more than 30 years.

According to the council’s meeting agenda, the resolution includes declaring Locust Street, from Exchange Street to Sycamore Street within the DeKalb County government campus, as Roger Scott Boulevard. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Sycamore Center, 308 W. State St. in downtown Sycamore.

“For more than 52 years, Sheriff Roger Scott has served DeKalb County communities and has been an integral part of the local law enforcement community,” city officials wrote in the agenda.

Scott began his public service in 1965 in the United States Air Force, serving four years before being honorably discharged as sergeant in 1969. His law enforcement career started with DeKalb County in 1969 as a radio operator and jailor, followed by 17 years in a variety of different positions and ranks before being appointed as sheriff in 1985 and elected to his first term in 1986.

Scott announced his June 23 retirement about a month ago after his decades-long law enforcement career. He previously wrote DeKalb County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Andy Sullivan will perform sheriff’s duties following his retirement on Wednesday until the County Board appoints a new sheriff in August.

The city’s agenda comes after Scott also was recognized for his service with the sheriff’s office during the Wednesday night DeKalb County Board meeting. The County Board passed a proclamation to declare June 23, 2021, as Roger A. Scott Day.

“This is kind of like a little paperback book,” County Board member Dianne Leifheit said with a chuckle, referencing Scott’s more than 50 years in law enforcement, before reading the two-page proclamation aloud during the Wednesday meeting.

Before asking Scott to say a few words after the proclamation was read, DeKalb County Board Chairman John Frieders said “it has certainly been a pleasure to work within county government with you all of these years that I have.”

Scott said he truly believes “it’s an honor to serve,” quoting Vietnam prisoner of war Jeremiah Denton.

“And I know that’s what the sheriff’s office believes,” Scott said.

Scott thanked the County Board for the recognition. He said he attributed the accomplishments listed in the proclamation to teamwork with county officials through the years.

“We’ve gone through so many things together – a lot of choppy waters,” Scott said. “Sometimes we didn’t agree – well, a lot of times, we didn’t agree – but we always worked together and I think it’s because we all understand that our passion is to serve and protect the citizens of this county, whether you’re in law enforcement or if you serve on this board.”

The Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees also recognized Scott’s contributions to the community during a recent meeting.

While Scott has dedicated a significant portion of his life to DeKalb County and law enforcement, “his most significant impact may be in what he has done when he is not in uniform,” city officials wrote in the agenda and county officials wrote in the proclamation. Scott and his wife Marcia raised three biological children, cared for about 40 foster children and adopted seven.

Scott told County Board members it was “such a privilege to be elected here and to serve with you.” He said he loves working in law enforcement and that he still wants to keep doing it.

“But I think it’s time to step aside for new leadership and strong leadership for the future and we’re going to need it,” Scott said. “But I know that you folks will be there to try to understand what the needs of the sheriff’s office are as they try to serve all of DeKalb County from Fairdale to Somonauk and all the points in between. That’s what we’ve been able to do together – county board and the sheriff’s office – all of these years.”