‘He lived a life of service’ | Former Winnebago County Sheriff Dick Meyers dies at 78

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — In a law enforcement career that spanned almost five decades, Dick Meyers worked in nearly every role from corrections officer to the county’s top cop.

His responsibilities changed as he moved from patrol to the detective bureau to part of the department’s top brass, but friends and family say no matter his role, his thoughts were always with the people and their families who were hurt by crime.

“As a cop he really couldn’t tell you much about the names of the suspects that he arrested over the years,” said Scott Meyers, Dick’s son and a former deputy chief in the department. “But he literally could recite the names of the loved ones of the victims. It was always about being a voice for the victims and their families.”

Meyers, who was the longest-serving sheriff in Winnebago County history when he retired in 2014, died Wednesday after a monthslong illness. He was 78.

Meyers was a Navy veteran who began his career with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department in September 1967 after he was discharged from the Navy. He started as a corrections officer, then worked as a patrolman, detective, detective sergeant, captain and chief deputy, serving as the department’s No. 2 before succeeding Don Gasparini as sheriff in 1997. He held the top role for more than 17 years of his 47-year career with the department.

“He lived a life of service from his time in the Navy to when he retired. His biggest thing is he always wanted to leave things better than how it found it. He always put others before himself.”

Meyers is survived by his wife, Margaret, his children Scott and Leanne and his five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Away from his job in law enforcement, the Shirland resident had a love for classic cars and farming.

“He loved his family unconditionally and did everything he could to take care of his family,” Scott Meyers said.

Meyers was instrumental in helping pass the one-cent public safety sales tax that paid for the construction of the Criminal Justice Center, which opened in July 2007. The previous jail had been filled beyond its capacity, and the county was under the threat of a federal lawsuit if it didn’t handle overcrowding.

“It was a real relief because we were in serious trouble on the old jail,” said Paul Logli, who was state’s attorney at the time and worked closely with Meyers on the campaign. “I had the federal courts breathing down my neck, and Dick really, really worked to get that thing passed and then he worked very hard to build a good building.”

Logli, who remained friends with Meyers over the years, said the sheriff faced his final illness with courage and dignity.

Understated leader

Meyers’ leadership style was different from his predecessor, Gasparini, who was a charismatic, outgoing and sometimes controversial politician with a big personality.

“Don was rather flamboyant and quite the personality. Dick was rather understated,” Logli said. “But man, he was a very, very credible leader and a great leader for the sheriff’s department. … He was a great sheriff. Very level-headed. Good judgement and he ran the department very well.”

Meyers was a Democrat, but party lines never seemed important in his approach to the job, said Scott Christiansen, the Republican former County Board chairman.

“We ended up being really close friends and the politics never entered into it,” Christiansen said. “I think he did a tremendous job. … He had a deep concern for victims. He was relentless on the detective side. From a personal standpoint, he was family-orientated and really a stand-up guy all the way.”

Christiansen said Meyers was always looking out for other people. About a year ago, Christiansen said he was laid up with an illness and Meyers came to help.

“He actually came over and mowed my lawn,” Christiansen said. “That’s no small task. It’s a four- to five-hour mission over here.”

Logli, also a Republican, also said that partisan politics never played a role in how Meyers ran the department.

“Dick was a Democrat and I was a lifelong Republican, and I don’t think we ever had an uncivil discussion,” he said.

Meyers faced his biggest controversy before his final campaign for office in 2010, when a series of lewd and explicit emails that had circulated around the department years prior were leaked to members of the media. The sheriff was apologetic, and responded with a series of office changes that, among other things, allowed employees to bypass the chain of command and report complaints directly to human resources if they were more comfortable.

The sheriff also led the department through the Great Recession, forcing him to manage difficult budget cuts. Meyers also was instrumental in establishing the series of tornado warning sirens around the county, something that was critical to storm safety especially in rural areas, Christiansen said.

Meyers came from a family of law enforcement. His father, Ernest Meyers, was an assistant chief and chief at the South Beloit Police Department. His mother, Rena Meyers, worked as a corrections officer. His son, Scott, also went on to work for the department, rising to the rank of deputy chief.

“One thing no one will ever take away from my dad is his work ethic. I think we took maybe two vacations as a family because he was busy working,” Scott Meyers said. “He took a lot of flack for me working there, but one thing I never got was any grace and I appreciated that.”

Congressman Eric Sorensen said Meyers “dedicated his life to public service and strengthening our community.”

“From his early days as a corrections officer to becoming the longest-serving sheriff in county history, he led with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice,” Sorensen said. “His leadership left a lasting impact on Winnebago County, and his legacy of service will not be forgotten. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him. May he rest in peace.”

Scott Meyers said his father’s legacy is one of service to people, something he committed himself to in every role he took on throughout his life.

“He loved what he did. He loved helping people,” he said. “He loved his community and the people in it.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas