Sycamore city officials honor retiring DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott with boulevard namesake

SYCAMORE – The soon-to-be-retired DeKalb County sheriff will officially leave his mark on a stretch of street in front of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and jail expansion.

The Sycamore City Council voted, 8-0, during their Monday meeting to unanimously approve a resolution to rename the street on the DeKalb County government campus after DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott, who has been the county’s sheriff for more than 30 years. The resolution includes declaring North Locust Street, from Exchange Street to Sycamore Street within the DeKalb County government campus, as Roger Scott Boulevard.

“For more than 52 years, Roger Scott has served DeKalb County communities and has been an integral part of the law enforcement community,” Sycamore acting City Manager Maggie Peck said during the meeting. “Roger has dedicated his life to law enforcement and positively affecting countless lives and careers with his ‘serving others first’ approach.”

Scott began his public service in 1965 in the U.S. 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 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 after his retirement Wednesday until the County Board appoints a new sheriff in August.

Sycamore Mayor Steve Braser said the part of the street named after Scott happens to be the stretch that has no residential houses on it. He said the boulevard namesake was a way the city could afford to more visibly commemorate Scott for his five decades of service to the area.

“It’s right off of Main Street,” Braser said. “So as people are coming up from [Illinois] Route 64, they’ll all be able to see it.”

Peck said Scott is a man of faith, morals, passion for helping people and strong desire to serve. She said county and city officials wanted to recognize Scott for serving the area and his role in helping build strong working relationships with the City of Sycamore.

“Sheriff Scott exemplifies the best in law enforcement and has demonstrated the same values and approach both the city and county law enforcement practice daily,” Peck said.

Peck said the intent is to post the commemorative street sign on that stretch of North Locust Street on Tuesday, weather permitting.

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. 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 – as well as cared for about 40 foster children and adopted seven children.

Scott said during the Monday meeting it has been “a great honor” to work with Sycamore police, fire and the City Council throughout the years. When he has been asked whether these recognitions are “old hat” now, he said, the answer still is no.

“I’m constantly amazed at the outpouring of the support and friendship going on in the last few weeks and even before that,” Scott said. “This is an particularly important honor because it shows the teamwork between the county and city throughout the years.”