Darien eyes police management
Photo 
Marc Dennison
DARIEN — Village Administrator Marc Dennison could get a new shirt Monday night.
The village police and public safety committee Wednesday night voted to recommend the village board put Dennison in charge of the beleaguered police department’s administrative duties.
The committee also recommended the board give the committee the power to settle with suspended Police Chief Steve DeVoy.
In a meeting that at times sounded like a pep talk and a lecture, committee Chairman John Evans said something’s got to give if the village is going to move past the legal battle with DeVoy that’s be going on since December.
“What we are facing right now is a very paralyzing situation when it comes to delivering police services,” Evans said. “We are at an impasse.”
The committee voted to take managerial responsibilities away from Darien’s acting police chief, Sgt. Mike Maltese, and give them to Dennison.
Evans said the change isn’t a criticism of Maltese. Rather, it reflects the fact that Maltese is a police union member or “blue shirt” being asked to make “white shirt” decisions, Evans said.
If the board at its regular meeting Monday night approves the recommendation, Dennison would be responsible for things such as scheduling and budgeting. Maltese would remain in charge of patrol decisions.
The committee also voted to recommend the board put the committee in charge of settling with DeVoy. The committee would meet with DeVoy behind closed doors with no attorneys, Evans said. The committee’s decision would be final and not need board approval, according to the motion.
This is an “olive branch” for the board, Evans said. It would take the responsibility away from the board that historically has split on votes related to the chief, he said.
Evans also made a motion to dissolve the police department Jan. 1. That would be the first step to ensure residents kept getting police services—possibly from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.
But after a discussion, Evans withdrew his motion, saying he knew it would not get support from board members Evelyn Etten and Debi Olmstead, who both are police committee members.
Evans said he preferred village officers continue to provide services. But at the rate the department is going that could be impossible by January, he said.
The department’s roster is short two full-time officers of what it was a year ago. Officer Chet Wilson resigned effective this Friday. DeVoy was suspended in December but continues to be paid.
The board in March voted to start the process to fire DeVoy, and a hearing to either uphold or change that decision is scheduled for November.
A motion hearing is scheduled next week in the matter. The hearing examiner is reading arguments from attorneys for the two sides and will decide if the board broke a contract when it voted against a settlement with DeVoy in September.
Oct 27, 2009 at 7:28 p.m.
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yougot: quit spreading spreading rumors
bunge: calm down don't believe everything you read
Oct 19, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
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Tonight the citizens of Darien will see if Kaufenberg and Zipp are really "for the people" or just plain "for themselves". The board meeting at 7pm tonight will show their true colors. They will be given an out by the Police Committee Chairman which will allow them to save face with the Chief Devoy issue. Lets see if they take it. My money says they won't, because I have been right all along, those two are on a personal vandetta to fire Chief Devoy. Those two will stop at nothing to get what they want, no matter how much money it costs the taxpayers of Darien, because they don't care about the people.....all they care about is themselves.
Oct 18, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
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What judge, oplease?
A Federal one? Or the one in Darien? (In which case, OH PLEASE, please, oplease)
Oct 17, 2009 at 8:57 a.m.
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Well maybe I have a solution. The board claims that DeVoy violated "policy" and terminated him. On the other hand, the board members violated the "law" which in my book is the worse evil of the two. I think the Judge should "fire" them and remove them from office!
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:26 p.m.
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yougot2bekidding, WHAT? Laws don't stop them? Unless this is the Twilight Zone, laws WILL stop them!
You need to call your District Attorney and call it to their attention. This kind of crooked politics is like old time Chigago. Why are 4 people running this village against laws to serve their own interests????
Not to mention they are costing those taxpayers money to do it. Don't the taxpayers know? Are these 4 board members rich people who are buying votes or what?
How is this even happening?
Oct 16, 2009 at 9:53 p.m.
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bungebob: this type of action even though some are facing charges for open meeting violations still doesn't stop them. They are desperate to get their way and show everyone else the highway.
Oct 16, 2009 at 8:48 p.m.
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yougot2bekidding if that's true, those 4 board members are in violation of laws if this was discussed among them outside a posted meeting venue.
Oct 16, 2009 at 2:19 p.m.
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Amen Williepeter. Although you know already by now that the news was spread and the fab 4 already have their decision made prior to Monday.
Maltese should've been removed as acting chief as soon as the complaints were filed against him and purposely uninvestigated. This all should aid Devoy in his crusade against the village.
Oct 16, 2009 at 1:51 p.m.
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Maltese wanted to have it both ways, be union protected and be management. One or the other dude, you can't have them both. Although I still don't get how Dennison can be placed as the acting chief with NO law enforcement experience what so ever. That would be like having Maltese teach a class on ethics, he has no clue. Good luck with this one Darien. Nothing will change, Dennison and Maltese are joined at the hip. Nothing will change for the good until Chief Devoy returns.
Oct 16, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.
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Maltese removed as acting chief by the police committee....it's about time. Good job Mr. Evans. Now lets see if this village board is smart enough to go along with this ruling. Somehow, I doubt it. There are 4 board members who are still on their personal crusade to bury this village. Lets see on Monday, just how smart they really are.
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.
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I think giving Dennison this new job is wrong he was part of the problem. He does not know how the talk nice to people. He was very rude to me and our dealing. well better start packing and move from this place its not getting any better
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
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Why not pass the torch from one idiot to another. I agree that Maltese shouldn’t be in charge of the police department and a union member too. That’s like giving him a blank overtime check for himself among other things.
The other concern is that Dennison may sue the village for something if he has to step into the police department. It was 6 hours last time in his new capacity. How long will it take this time? This guy knows absolutely nothing about the administrative duties of a chief of police. He can barely do his job with any accuracy.
We again are in serious trouble but I applaud the efforts of John Evans and the police committee members. They don’t have many choices given the mess that 4 board members have made.
Oct 16, 2009 at 8:23 a.m.
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Hmmmm, it must be a slow day in Lake Geneva!
Oct 15, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.
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Finally, a voice of reason who is willing to get this unhealthy issue settled once and for all.
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