DuPage County Mourns Loss Of Retired Sheriff, 92

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — DuPage County is mourning the loss of retired Sheriff Richard P. Doria. Doria, 92, of Downers Grove, who was sheriff from 1977 through 1997 died Friday.

Before Doria became sheriff in 1977, he served as a township constable, a patrol officer, a narcotics investigator, and a detective. During his time working with the sheriff's office, he founded the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force and the office's crime laboratory.

Doria is also credited with expanding DuPage County's correctional facility and creating the county's Hazardous Device Unit.

In a statement after Doria's passing, current DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said, "Sheriff Doria was my first mentor at the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office when he hired me in 1996. Hewas always a well-respected yet tough sheriff who always did the right thing and was always very clearwith his direction. The first advice he gave me was to never lie, regardless of the circumstances, and I’ve always taken that advice very seriously. I will miss him and I can’t thank him enough for helping me to get where I am today."

A visitation will be held for Retired Sheriff Doria on Jan. 24 from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main Street, Downers Grove. Funeral services are set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Saint Isaac Jogues Church 306 W. 4th St., in Hinsdale, to be followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

In lieu of flowers, residents are encouraged to mentor disabled children via The Shriners Hospital for Children or to volunteer at a disabled veterans' organization of their choosing.