LITH Police Commission Discharges Injured Officer
Patrolman Craig James has been on a leave of absence for more than one year after he was injured on the job in December 2009.
Photos
The Lake in the Hills Police Commission unanimously voted to discharge a veteran police officer who was injured on the job two years ago.
After hearing comments from both James Wales, director of police and public safety for the LITH Polce Department, and injured officer Craig James, the three-member commission on Tuesday night determined James would never be physically capable of returning to his patrol duties.
The decision was difficult for the commissioners. After the meeting, two stopped to shake hands with James and said, "I'm sorry."
Commissioner Travis Wilbert thanked James for his 16 years of service to the village.
Wales told the commission he needs to replace James as his department is desperately understaffed due to James' absence and recent economic pressures that forced the village board to cut four police officer positions.
"We're operating at the lowest level of officer ratio (to people) in 32 to 33 years," Wales said. "...we're at 1.26 officers per 1,000 people. That's about half the national average."
James' 13-year-career with the Lake in the Hills Police Department was curtailed when in December 2009 he positioned his squad car behind a stalled car on Randall Road.
James said he intended to protect the stranded vehicle from being struck by the moving traffic but an approaching car slammed into James' squad car instead traveling about 45 mph, he said.
At the hearing, James said he suffered two fractured vertebrae as a result of the accident. He remained on injured leave until August 2010, but when he returned to work his back pain "increased enough where I couldn't go back to work," he told the commission.
From that point on, the officer began exhausting all of his sick and vacation days. He underwent two spinal fusion surgeries — one in December 2010 and the most recent in November 2011.
In March 2011, he said a staff member told him he should request a one-year leave of absence.
James said he knew the leave would be unpaid. He has gone without a salary for more than one year now, and has been paying for his family health insurance out of his own pocket, he said.
In recent months, James said he was told by police staff members he needed to retire or quit. James' attorney advised him not to quit because of his pending workman's compensation claim from the accident. James also filed a police pension claim, which also is pending.
James requested the commission delay its decision until he had completed the pension hearing process. If fired, the health insurance payments he already is paying on his would likely increase substantially, he said.
However, LITH village attorney Carlos Arevalo said the Police Commission hearing and Police Pension Board of Trustees hearings are not interrelated.
"He can't do the job, bottom line," Arevalo said.
After the decision, the officer's wife, Patricia James, said the outcome was "expected," but she was disheartened by what she perceived as a lack of concern for her husband.
"I'm very disappointed at the lack of support my husband and family have received," Patricia James said.
Juz
1:50 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Typical of how Police Officers are treated
Rich P
8:37 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Jim Wales ('director of police and public safety') costs the LITH nearly $200,000 per year. He retired as LITH 'chief of police' when he turned 50. That same day he was hired in his current civilian position of 'director of police and public safety'.
His combined Pension and Salary might equal the starting salary of three new officers that are needed in the town.
Dolores S. Rhoney
9:42 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Heads up to Rich P I agree!!!! Jim Wales has some nerve trying to stop an officer from a chance of compensation. This sure sends a message to our police officers that are putting their lives on the line each day. Mr. Wales you didn't even have the common sense to wait a month for the pension hearing!!!!!! I hope you are never injured because what goes around comes around!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Wales for not careing for a fellow officer. My heart goes out to the James family.
Wife of a retired officer
Patricia J.
6:25 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Rich P~ ironically my husband & I were among the very few who supported Jim Wales in that transition.
Dolores~ thank you from now the wife of a "retired" police officer.
We did receive word from the H.R. department that to continue our insurance benefits will cost over $1300.00 a month for a high deductible coverage plan.
The pension board only meets 4 times a year and then my husband will again be forced to see numerous doctors again, of their choosing, to determine if this injury was actually caused on the job & if he is entitled to a disability pension. It will be a while before any of this is actually settled.
Dolores S. Rhoney
7:00 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Patricia I will keep you in my prayers. I know what it is like not to have insurance. Also I do believe justice will come to Mr Wales all in time. He doesn't have to struggle for money or insurance so he doesn't know what it is like.
Rich P
11:23 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Delores, I've found the best revenge is sucess - but it's not always satisfing. I used to own a house in LITH until I asked Wales for an apology (he pushed me on my front lawn in front of his entire staff). I stuck to what was right in court (clearing my name); and ended up homeless, unemployed (I had a good job with Nicor before all this), and my kids (all under 6-years old) where without their father. There are folks at LITH PD who know the story. I picked myself up, got a job at an overnight clerk at a grocery store and worked my way through Loyola University - earning a B.A.. I am a Business Analyst now. It is bittersweet, however. My son who was at the center of all this died of a heroin overdose at 26. I wake up ever day - sick to my stomach because of all this. I am in the process of having the story published.
Dolores S. Rhoney
5:07 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Rich, I do recall a story about an overdose in the papers and I am sure it was one-sided. I hope you do get your story published. I am so sorry for your loss and I know your son would be very proud of his Dad. Yes, sucess is the best revenge. I believe in the revenge of "Faith". Justice does come to evil but it may take time to happen.
Jen B
8:21 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
This article sickens and saddens me. For someone who has given 16 years of service to the police force to be treated like this is outrageous. We as taxpayers should not stand for this. I'm sorry, but this man and his family deserve medical care and Mr. James deserves his pension. The James family should not have to spend their time worrying about falling ill due to lack of coverage. This is ridiculous, and the LITH PD should be ashamed of this.
Rich P
12:17 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I think the LITH village board should hear from each off duty LITH police officer, every Algonquin police officer, ever Huntly police officer and every Crystal Lake police officer about this topic. The rule states each of us can have the floor for 5-min. This could really capture the interest of the media depending on turnout and frequency. Let’s unify, get up, and take action now.
I also think we as voters have the right to know what each board member thinks about this topic. If I found out Ed Plaza supports Wales, I wouldn’t vote for Plaza. The dialog needs to stay alive so this is always fresh on everyone’s mind. Ideally the ‘Wales Issue’ could turn into a hot button item and sway voters the same way as gun control and abortion.