Post by Site Admin on Sept 13, 2005 5:45:53 GMT -5
Police fire officer suspected in beating
[published on Tue, Jun 7, 2005]
By JEFF GARD
jgard@nwherald.com
SPRING GROVE – Ronald Pilati, one of four people indicted in the Feb. 20 beating of 26-year-old Ryan Hallett, no longer is a Spring Grove police officer.
Police Chief Don Regnier said he met with Pilati on Saturday and told him his implication in a vicious beating violated the community's trust.
The attack, which occurred at KC's Cabin near Fox Lake, left Hallett, of unincorporated Spring Grove, with a shattered right eye socket and other injuries.
"It is our intention to protect the integrity and image of the police department in the community," Regnier said, "and that involves getting our department back up to full strength."
Pilati, who was with the department for two years, was placed on paid administrative leave April 1.
Al Stavros, an attorney representing Pilati, said the firing was not an admission of Pilati's liability or guilt in the incident.
"It is a small village," Stavros said. "I assume when [Pilati] is vindicated, which he will be, they will reconsider it."
A McHenry County grand jury on Thursday charged Pilati, former Richmond police Officer Brian Quilici, former Lincolnshire police Officer Jerome Volstad, and Jessica Thelen with aggravated battery and conspiracy.
A federal lawsuit filed by Hallett in March claims that the four people handcuffed and beat Hallett in the tavern parking lot after a verbal dispute inside.
Pilati and Quilici were off duty at the time of the incident. Quilici resigned from his job with the Richmond Police Department on May 18.
Regnier said he hoped to hire another full-time officer to replace Pilati within the next one to three weeks.
"Since [Pilati] has been on leave, we've been short one man, and it has been difficult for the rest of the officers," Regnier said. "We have part-time officers we can look at. If they are not certified they would have to have academy time first."
Regnier said Pilati displayed no ill will.
"[Pilati] was apologetic and understanding," Regnier said. "There was no severance package, just whatever benefits and pay that he accrued right up until he was released."
Stavros acknowledged it might be too late for Pilati to reclaim his job when the trial concludes several months from now.
"You can't blame the village for not taking Pilati back at that point," Stavros said, "if they have another officer doing his job and that officer is doing a great job."
Regnier said he did not receive any public pressure to fire Pilati.
"The culmination of the trial will be the final chapter," Regnier said, "but we are hoping we can close the books on this and move forward."
archive.nwherald.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=./pubfiles/nwh/archive/2005/June/07/Main/52027.xml
[published on Tue, Jun 7, 2005]
By JEFF GARD
jgard@nwherald.com
SPRING GROVE – Ronald Pilati, one of four people indicted in the Feb. 20 beating of 26-year-old Ryan Hallett, no longer is a Spring Grove police officer.
Police Chief Don Regnier said he met with Pilati on Saturday and told him his implication in a vicious beating violated the community's trust.
The attack, which occurred at KC's Cabin near Fox Lake, left Hallett, of unincorporated Spring Grove, with a shattered right eye socket and other injuries.
"It is our intention to protect the integrity and image of the police department in the community," Regnier said, "and that involves getting our department back up to full strength."
Pilati, who was with the department for two years, was placed on paid administrative leave April 1.
Al Stavros, an attorney representing Pilati, said the firing was not an admission of Pilati's liability or guilt in the incident.
"It is a small village," Stavros said. "I assume when [Pilati] is vindicated, which he will be, they will reconsider it."
A McHenry County grand jury on Thursday charged Pilati, former Richmond police Officer Brian Quilici, former Lincolnshire police Officer Jerome Volstad, and Jessica Thelen with aggravated battery and conspiracy.
A federal lawsuit filed by Hallett in March claims that the four people handcuffed and beat Hallett in the tavern parking lot after a verbal dispute inside.
Pilati and Quilici were off duty at the time of the incident. Quilici resigned from his job with the Richmond Police Department on May 18.
Regnier said he hoped to hire another full-time officer to replace Pilati within the next one to three weeks.
"Since [Pilati] has been on leave, we've been short one man, and it has been difficult for the rest of the officers," Regnier said. "We have part-time officers we can look at. If they are not certified they would have to have academy time first."
Regnier said Pilati displayed no ill will.
"[Pilati] was apologetic and understanding," Regnier said. "There was no severance package, just whatever benefits and pay that he accrued right up until he was released."
Stavros acknowledged it might be too late for Pilati to reclaim his job when the trial concludes several months from now.
"You can't blame the village for not taking Pilati back at that point," Stavros said, "if they have another officer doing his job and that officer is doing a great job."
Regnier said he did not receive any public pressure to fire Pilati.
"The culmination of the trial will be the final chapter," Regnier said, "but we are hoping we can close the books on this and move forward."
archive.nwherald.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=./pubfiles/nwh/archive/2005/June/07/Main/52027.xml