Post by Site Admin on Sept 13, 2005 5:52:02 GMT -5
Castoffs can create problems
Publication Northwest Herald
Date July 17, 2005
Section(s) Columnists
Page
The revelation that Marengo officials did not know that police officer Scott Crawford had a checkered past before they hired him is not all that shocking.
Unfortunately, police departments often cut deals with problem officers rather than go through the rigmarole of publicly disciplining or firing them.
The result is a lack of record of misconduct.
"It is the dilemma of the ages," McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. "So often what a department does with a bad egg is get the person to resign. The officer leaves in good standing, and the department doesn't have to go through the hassle and embarrassment of a hearing."
The result is that an officer such as Crawford, who was videotaped using excessive force during a traffic stop when he worked in Waukegan in 2001, can pop up in a small town such as Marengo with a "clean" record. Rogue cops have, unfortunately, been in vogue in McHenry County this year.
Former area police Officers Brian Quilici, Ronald Pilati and Jerome Volstad currently are under indictment for a beating that occurred in the parking lot of a bar in Fox Lake earlier this year.
Deputy director for the Illinois Association of Chief of Police Laimutis Nargelenas said part of the problem was that smaller departments have very limited resources and an officer who already had state certification and training was an attractive option.
"Whenever an officer leaves a large department with a lot of career opportunities, it should raise a red flag," Nargelenas said. "Sometimes it can be the officer's just tired of the big city, but sometimes there's other reasons."
The problem is that police departments face the same obstacles as any prospective employer. Sometimes former employers simply will not provide information.
Tom Carroll, chief of the civil division for the McHenry County state's attorney's office, said Nygren asked prospective officers to sign a waiver, clearing former employers to talk. Smaller departments could employ a similar tactic, Carroll said.
Nygren said he had had officers quit before he could begin disciplinary hearings.
"When I get a call from another department, I'll say, 'If you want me to talk about this individual, you'll need to get a waiver,' " Nygren said.
Unfortunately, not all departments are as conscientious. Some departments are just relieved to send bad apples on their way.
"If you, as a chief, have got a problem with an individual and you let him go to another department, that's not ethical, but the police chiefs have to balance this with potential liability they could face," Nargelenas said.
Publication Northwest Herald
Date July 17, 2005
Section(s) Columnists
Page
The revelation that Marengo officials did not know that police officer Scott Crawford had a checkered past before they hired him is not all that shocking.
Unfortunately, police departments often cut deals with problem officers rather than go through the rigmarole of publicly disciplining or firing them.
The result is a lack of record of misconduct.
"It is the dilemma of the ages," McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. "So often what a department does with a bad egg is get the person to resign. The officer leaves in good standing, and the department doesn't have to go through the hassle and embarrassment of a hearing."
The result is that an officer such as Crawford, who was videotaped using excessive force during a traffic stop when he worked in Waukegan in 2001, can pop up in a small town such as Marengo with a "clean" record. Rogue cops have, unfortunately, been in vogue in McHenry County this year.
Former area police Officers Brian Quilici, Ronald Pilati and Jerome Volstad currently are under indictment for a beating that occurred in the parking lot of a bar in Fox Lake earlier this year.
Deputy director for the Illinois Association of Chief of Police Laimutis Nargelenas said part of the problem was that smaller departments have very limited resources and an officer who already had state certification and training was an attractive option.
"Whenever an officer leaves a large department with a lot of career opportunities, it should raise a red flag," Nargelenas said. "Sometimes it can be the officer's just tired of the big city, but sometimes there's other reasons."
The problem is that police departments face the same obstacles as any prospective employer. Sometimes former employers simply will not provide information.
Tom Carroll, chief of the civil division for the McHenry County state's attorney's office, said Nygren asked prospective officers to sign a waiver, clearing former employers to talk. Smaller departments could employ a similar tactic, Carroll said.
Nygren said he had had officers quit before he could begin disciplinary hearings.
"When I get a call from another department, I'll say, 'If you want me to talk about this individual, you'll need to get a waiver,' " Nygren said.
Unfortunately, not all departments are as conscientious. Some departments are just relieved to send bad apples on their way.
"If you, as a chief, have got a problem with an individual and you let him go to another department, that's not ethical, but the police chiefs have to balance this with potential liability they could face," Nargelenas said.