Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter nominated Paula Crouch to serve as Sheriff, and her appointment was approved by the County Board at the September 18th board meeting by a bipartisan vote. Crouch is set to fill the vacancy left by former Sheriff Jack Campbell, who recently retired.
Crouch, a lifelong resident of Sangamon County and Auburn High School graduate, has devoted nearly three decades to public service. She holds degrees from Lincoln Land Community College and Benedictine University, as well as a Master’s in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. Her career in public safety began as a Sangamon County 911 dispatcher before joining the Springfield Police Department in 1999. She retired as a lieutenant in 2023 and currently serves as Chief Deputy of Administration for the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
During her tenure with the Springfield Police Department, Crouch held various roles, including Sangamon/Menard County Crime Stoppers Coordinator, neighborhood patrol officer, and detective. She was involved in several specialty units such as the Hostage Negotiations Team, the Pro-Active Crime Unit, and the Critical Incident Team. Crouch also worked as a law enforcement training instructor and was assigned to the Child Advocacy Center, where she investigated child abuse cases. Additionally, she served on the U.S.
Marshals Task Force and the Illinois Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Crouch’s commitment to law enforcement has earned her numerous awards, including the William Herndon Award in 2005, Sangamon County Advocate of the Year in 2012, and the American Red Cross Hero Award for Public Service in 2013. In 2017, she received the Abraham Lincoln Award for community service.
To ensure a thorough selection process for the new sheriff, Chairman Van Meter appointed a review committee led by former 7th Judicial Circuit Judge Pat Kelley. The committee reviewed fifteen applications and ultimately recommended Crouch for the role. “We were fortunate to have a highly qualified pool of applicants,” Kelley said. “After careful deliberation, the committee is confident in Paula Crouch’s ability to lead the Sheriff’s Office, and we stand firmly behind her selection.”
Crouch expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been chosen to serve as the Sheriff of Sangamon County. My career in law enforcement has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people and tackle complex challenges, and I look forward to bringing those experiences to this role. Protecting the safety and well-being of our citizens will always be my top priority, and I am committed to building on the foundation of the Sheriff’s Office to continue improving public safety in our county.”
Chairman Van Meter also voiced his confidence in Crouch’s leadership. “Paula Crouch’s extensive experience and deep roots in our community make her the ideal person to lead the Sheriff’s Office. As a former victim of sexual harassment and a working single mom who overcame financial difficulties, Paula knows what it is like when life knocks you down. She understands that justice is the application of human understanding to the laws designed to protect all of us from the worst of us,” he said.
Crouch resides in rural Williams Township with her husband and two children. Her appointment took effect immediately following the County Board’s approval, with her term running through December 2026.
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