McHenry County College police chief to join Sheriff’s Office as corrections chief

The McHenry County College police chief will take over as the new McHenry County Sheriff’s Office corrections chief following the January retirement of the current chief, Sheriff Bill Prim announced Tuesday.

Michael Clesceri, who has more than 30 years of experience and leadership in law enforcement, will take over as the McHenry County jail’s administrator starting Jan. 11, which is when Chief Daniel Sitkie is scheduled to retire, according to the release. Sitkie is set to retire after 29 years with the corrections division, where he spent the last two years as chief.

The first McHenry County Jail, which was first established with the Sheriff’s Office in 1837, holds those awaiting trial in criminal cases, as well as those that have been sentenced to less than a year. The jail can house up to 650 inmates and employs 195 correctional officers and staff.

Before becoming the police chief at McHenry County College, Clesceri began his career as a police officer, after which he was promoted to sergeant and then investigations commander, according to the release. As assistant chief of investigations for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in California, Clesceri supervised 240 Investigators and managed all criminal and administrative investigations units.

Clesceri graduated from Purdue University’s Concord Law School with an Executive Juris Doctorate of Law, as well as Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. He has also served as a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Regional SWAT team member the past four years.

Sitkie will lead the transition process starting Dec. 30 and guide Clesceri until his retirement on Jan. 11, at which time Clesceri will take the helm, according to the release.