The year 2019 was an extremely busy one for public safety in DuPage County. We sat down with Bob to talk about some of his proudest accomplishments in the last year. Here’s what we came up with:

1) Myron Ester sentenced to natural life in jail for heinous slaying of girlfriend, Linda Valez.

Myron Ester was sentenced to natural life in prison after a jury convicted him of the September, 2013 murder of 39 year old Linda Valez. Ester was also sentenced to 5 years for Concealing Valez’s murder by burying her in a grave in Panfish Park in Glen Ellyn.

2) Woodridge man faces charges for fatal kennel fire that claimed lives of 29 dogs.

Garrett Mercado was charged with over 24 misdemeanor charges, including 12 counts of animal cruelty, after a fire at the Carol Stream dog kennel he operated took the lives of 29 dogs. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office worked with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office to investigate and properly charge Mercado.

3) DuPage County announces the formation of MERIT - Metropolitan Emergency Response & Investigative Team.

This fall 36 member communities banded together to form MERIT, an inter-agency partnership of municipal police forces, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. The task force will have over two dozen specialty areas of assignment including: SWAT, hostage negotiation, major crash reconstructions, and major crime investigations.

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4) The F.O.C.U.S. (First Offender Call Unified for Success) Courtroom finishes its first year of operation. This Court received an award from the National Association of Counties (NACO).

The F.O.C.U.S. (First Offender Call United for Success) Courtroom completed its first full year of service to the County. The F.O.C.U.S. program’s goal is to provide non-violent first-time drug offenders the necessary treatment, counseling, education and support needed to successfully complete their term of probation and to ensure they remain on the road to recovery and rehabilitation.

5) Adult Diversion Program has record number of applications & admissions.

The program is only available to offenders who have no previous criminal history and are facing charges for a non-violent offense (e.g. retail theft, forgery, criminal trespass). The diversion program requires the offender to first plead guilty without sentencing, then go out and complete their program goals, before returning to court to withdraw the guilty plea with the case dismissed only if they completed their program satisfactorily. They can then seek expungement of the arrest. In 2019, 123 defendants applied to the program and 68 were accepted; both are records. Additionally, 38 defendants successfully completed the program during the year.

6) Child Support division brings in more than $40 million in unpaid child support.

The Child Support Division continued working to aggressively recover support owed to single parents. In the federal fiscal year, stretching between June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2019, the total dollar amount for support brought in by the division was $41.3 million. This is the third straight fiscal year of child support recovery surpassing the $40 million mark.

7) Bob Berlin swears in Downers Grove Peer Jury.

On Thursday, October 3rd, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin swore in 27 peer jurors at the Village of Downers Grove. The Peer Juries convened through the program are alternatives to court for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders who have committed offenses such as theft, vandalism, disorderly conduct, tobacco possession, or underage drinking.

8) DuPage County School Safety Committee debuts new emergency preparedness guidelines.

In Wheaton in June of 2019, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin met with local enforcement agencies, fire departments, and school district staff from across the county to roll out new emergency guidelines for potential school emergencies; notably including active shooter incidents. The meeting was the culmination of months of work and meetings involving these key stakeholders. The result was the introduction of universal response language and plans in the event of a crisis in any of the affiliated school districts. This collaboration and mutual aid planning is vital for increasing readiness and even deterring hostile actors in DuPage.

9) Army Specialist Andrew Hui convicted of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, & sentenced to 75 years in prison.

From April 2011 to June 2013, Andew Hui sexually assaulted his victim on multiple occasions when he was staying with her family at her home near Oak Brook. Hui was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one more count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was then sentenced to 75 years in prison.

10) 2 Chicago men & a 17-year-old juvenile are charged in Downers Grove/Warrenville Carjackings.

Two Chicago men and a 17-year-old juvenile were charged with committing multiple vehicular hijackings at gunpoint -- including one where the driver was a pregnant woman -- in Downers Grove and Warrenville. Daysean Washington-Davis and Emanuel Embry, both 19, along with the juvenile, terrorized residents over two weeks in late November and December, robbing people in three separate cases.

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Bob Berlin's Top 10 Accomplishments in 2019