Officers seeking warrants in DuPage County cases could have them approved electronically in under 10 minutes, and the State's Attorney's cold case investigator will get a dedicated vehicle for fieldwork, after the county's Judicial and Public Safety Committee approved more than $370,000 in public safety investments Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Every criminal case originating in Hinsdale flows through the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. The four items approved at the 8 a.m. meeting, chaired by County Board member Lucy Evans, now move to the Finance Committee and require a final vote from the full County Board.

Cold case truck: $47,117

State's Attorney Bob Berlin's office will receive a 2026 Ford F-150 from Sutton Ford for its cold case unit investigator, at a cost of $47,117. The contract runs from Aug. 11 through Nov. 30.

During old business, committee member Jim Zay thanked the Sheriff's Office for confirming that a cold case referenced in online public comment remains under active investigation. The case was not identified by name.

Warrant system: $110,250

The Sheriff's Office will pay $110,250 for Cloudgavel, a cloud-based warrant management platform owned by Tyler Technologies. The system lets officers submit, review and receive judicial approval for warrants electronically on any internet-connected device, according to the Wheaton Sentinel. The company says the process can take under 10 minutes.

The money is not new spending. The Sheriff's Office is shifting existing budget dollars from a subscription IT line to a software account.

Committee member Brian Krajewski had pressed for data on outstanding warrants versus arrests at both the May 19 and July 7 meetings. The Cloudgavel upgrade followed that scrutiny.

Forensic science and family violence grants

The committee approved a $162,255 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for the Sheriff's Office. The federal Coverdell program faces a proposed 71 percent cut in the current federal budget cycle, from $35 million to $10 million, according to the R Street Institute. The grant supports the Sheriff's Office crime lab, which processes evidence from cases across DuPage County, including Hinsdale.

Separately, the 18th Judicial Circuit Court will receive $52,000 from the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council to address intimate partner abuse, child abuse, teen dating violence and elder abuse through training and systems coordination.

What it means for Hinsdale

Faster electronic warrant processing means Hinsdale police officers seeking search or arrest warrants can get judicial approval without transporting paper documents to the courthouse. A dedicated cold case vehicle means the investigator working unsolved DuPage cases has the mobility to do fieldwork without borrowing a shared fleet car.

Hinsdale public safety week ahead

Committee Chair Evans noted that additional FY2027 budget presentations from the court and State's Attorney's Office will continue at a Special Call meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Committee member Dawn DeSart flagged pending state legislation on Flock automated license plate reader cameras; Zay requested the topic be placed on the next County Board agenda.

Residents can track committee actions and submit public comment through the DuPage County Legistar system.