Lake County Jail hires new warden
A new warden of the Lake County Jail has been selected after a nationwide search, officials said.
Warden Todd Wasmer, a U.S. Army veteran, started in his new role in the Lake County Jail on Jan. 4 following the retirement of former Warden Michael Zenk, who served as warden from April 2018 to December 2021.
“I would like to thank Sheriff (Oscar) Martinez for the opportunity to serve as the warden of Lake County Jail. I also would like to thank the staff of Lake County Jail and the sheriff ’s department for their hard work and support during my time as warden,” Zenk said in a statement.
At the Lake County Council study session earlier this month, Wasmer said he hopes “to bring a lot of good experience to the Lake County Jail” after having worked in corrections for 16 years in Florida, Arizona and Nebraska.
“I hope to bring a lot to the table,” Wasmer said.
Wasmer most recently worked at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services at the Tecumseh
State Correctional Institution in Nemaha Township, Tecumseh, Nebraska, according to his resume.
Since 2019, Wasmer worked in Nebraska managing a 1,000-bed maximum and medium security all-male prison with a 10-bed skilled nursing facility, 384-bed protective management unit and a 194-bed restrictive housing unit that included Nebraska’s death row inmates, according to his resume.
Before working in Nebraska, Wasmer was the assistant warden at Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona, from 2017 until 2019, according to his resume, where he managed the daily operations of a 1,550-bed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center.
From 2013 to 2017, Wasmer was the chief of security at Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto, Florida, where he managed the security and operations of a 750-bed county jail, according to his resume.
Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said in a statement that he is “pleased to welcome” Wasmer.
“(Wasmer) brings a wealth of corrections experience working corrections from multiple states in jail, prison and detention settings,” Martinez said. “We are extremely grateful for the dedication and numerous contributions Michael Zenk made during his time as warden.”
Lake County Sheriff Chief Vincent Balbo told the county council that Wasmer was hired after a 60-day search.
“(Wasmer) brings a lot to the table,” Balbo said, adding that it was important to the sheriff to hire a career professional into the role.
Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, said that Zenk “has done exceptional work at the jail,” who has become a friend. Dernulc, who oversees the jail’s budget, said that Zenk was good at staying within budget when making purchases and transfers.
“One thing that I mentioned to (Wasmer): Live within your budget and don’t ask for any appropriations out of the general fund,” Dernulc said.
Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said that Zenk “has done a lot of good for the Lake County Jail.”