By Larissa Chinwah
Chicago Daily Herald
East Dundee Police Chief Terry Mee was reinstated to his position Friday, but the village president who removed Mee from his post a week ago said he would fulfill the state statute requirements to officially remove the chief.
At a special board meeting Friday night, Village Attorney Pat O’Connor and the village board determined that Mee, vice president of the Wheaton park board and a former longtime Wheaton police officer, was inappropriately removed from the post because Village President Jerry Bartels failed to provide a written charge outlining his reasons for dismissing the chief. Technically, Mee was never removed as chief.
Although trustees had initially made a motion to overrule the village president’s decision, no vote was taken.
“He has not been removed pursuant to statute,” O’Connor said. “The removal did not comply with state statute.”
Bartels did provide the board and the audience of about 20 residents with a laundry list of financial reasons for his decision, ranging from the anticipated departure of Walmart to the unexpected expenses related to infrastructure improvements on Van Buren Street.
“These are things I am concerned about now,” Bartels said. “We are paying too much now and we have too many things on our plate that we need to pay for.”
Bartels said he would provide the board with a written charge Monday. When asked under what authority he removed Mee, Bartels said, “I have the authority as executive officer of East Dundee.”
Mee, who received support from his family and more than a dozen residents, said he would return to the office next week.
“It appears that I have been reinstated at this time,” Mee said after the meeting. “Until I hear something to the contrary from the village board, I will be back to work on Monday.”
But trustees said they expect the fight to continue.
“It is unfortunate that this is not the end,” Trustee Rob Gorman said.
Mee, who took over as chief in 2006, was relieved of his duties July 23. Bartels sent an e-mail to the village board, legal counsel and village staff announcing Mee’s removal and the appointment of Lt. Michael Blahnik to acting chief. No reasons were outlined in the e-mail.
The board then received a letter from Mee’s attorney calling the action “an improper removal” and stating the chief wants to continue leading the East Dundee police force. Board members said the letter implied a threat of legal action if the decision were not reversed.
Copyright 2010 Paddock Publications, Inc.