Paula Crouch to be nominated for Sangamon County Sheriff

According to a press release issued Sept. 17 by Sangamon County, Board Chairman Andy Van Meter will nominate Paula Crouch, 51, to serve as sheriff at the Sept. 18 board meeting, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of former Sheriff Jack Campbell.

The press release reads as follows:

A lifelong resident of Sangamon County, Crouch graduated from Auburn High School and has dedicated nearly three decades to public service. She holds degrees from Lincoln Land Community College and Benedictine University and a Master's in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. Before becoming a police officer, Crouch began her career in public safety as a Sangamon County 911 dispatcher. She later joined the City of Springfield Police Department in 1999, retiring in 2023 as a lieutenant. Since her retirement, Crouch has served as the Chief Deputy of Administration for the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk's Office.

Throughout her distinguished career, Crouch held multiple roles in the Springfield Police Department, including serving as the Sangamon/Menard County Crime Stoppers Coordinator, a neighborhood patrol officer and a detective. She was also a member of the Hostage Negotiations Team, the Pro-Active Crime Unit and the Critical Incident Team (CIT), among others. In addition, Crouch served as a law enforcement training instructor, helping to mentor and develop the next generation of officers. She was also assigned to the Child Advocacy Center, where she investigated cases of child abuse, the United States Marshals Task Force, assisting with the capture of dangerous fugitives, and the Illinois Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Crouch’s contributions to law enforcement have been recognized with numerous awards, including the William Herndon Award for plain clothes detective in 2005, the Sangamon County Advocate of the Year in 2012, and the American Red Cross Hero Award for Public Service in 2013. She also received the Abraham Lincoln Award for community service in 2017.

To ensure a thorough selection process, Chairman Van Meter established a review committee to evaluate the 15 initial applications. The committee, chaired by former 7th Judicial Circuit Judge Pat Kelley, conducted an extensive review before recommending 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.”

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been chosen to serve as the sheriff of Sangamon County,” Crouch said. “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.”

Van Meter expressed his confidence in Crouch’s leadership, stating, "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.”

Crouch resides in rural Williams Township with her husband and two children. If approved by the full County Board, the appointment will be effective immediately, with the term expiring in December 2026.