Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer took the oath of office Monday and promised he would hit the ground running during his first week at the helm.

Kramer, joined by family members including his father, former Sheriff George Kramer, received a standing ovation from Kane County Board members and applause from a packed audience that attended the 9 a.m. swearing-in ceremony in the county boardroom.

In a brief interview after the ceremony, Kramer said he would focus on problem-oriented policing and empower his lieutenants “to make operational decisions and utilize all the resources we have.”

According to Herman Goldstein, an early founder of the POP approach, “problem-oriented policing places a high value on new responses that are preventive in nature, that are not dependent on the use of the criminal justice system, and that engage other public agencies, the community and the private sector when their involvement has the potential for significantly contributing to the reduction of the problem.”

“We will charge all deputies with that task,” Kramer said, “and lieutenants are going to be the point men and women.”

Starting Sunday, it won’t be just deputies and sergeants who work the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.

“From now on, I believe it’s important to have lieutenants (present) 24/7,” he said.

Kramer’s father, George, said the challenges facing his son are in some ways much different than they were when he was sheriff, from 1978 to 1986.

“The technology has changed dramatically, and there are so many more tools for law enforcement these days,” he said. “And (Kane County’s) population has really grown. There are just so many more people, and (the Sheriff’s Office staffing) has not kept up with the population.”

But George Kramer said that some of the fundamentals of good Sheriff’s Office work haven’t changed — that being able to listen to people and reach out to the residents of unincorporated Kane County are still qualities that matter and make a difference.

“He’ll do a good job because he likes the public contact,” George Kramer said about his son, “and that’s such an important part of the job.”

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Photo Slide Show: Kane County Swears In New Sheriff, Board Members