patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Vince Clark

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Resident Asks City Officials to Act Fast

A concerned Naperville resident wants city officials to examine what he and some first responders believe are fatal flaws in the newly implemented emergency radio system.

A concerned resident is asking that the city take a hard look at its new emergency radio broadcasting system and what he says are its true shortcomings. Naperville resident Bill Eagan addressed the Naperville City Council Tuesday evening to share what he says firefighters, police officers and others believe are failures in the new radio system, which is shared by Naperville and Aurora. "… It involves protecting lives and not just of our citizens, but of our first responders," he said, reading from a statement he'd prepared. "To get straight to the point, a system of this importance and magnitude needs to have no failure tolerance." The city joined forces Dec. 1 with Aurora in launching the new communication system, which officials had said…

In this Article:

City of Naperville and New Police Radio System Goes Live Today

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Council Candidates Throw Down Tuesday

Eight of 15 Naperville City Council hopefuls took part in a candidate forum Tuesday held at the American Legion.

Eight city council hopefuls went toe-to-toe Tuesday night fielding questions—most, focused on union issues—during a candidate forum hosted by the Coalition of Naperville Collective Bargaining Units. Incumbent candidates Bob Fieseler and Richard Furstenau were joined by six newbies: Patty Gustin, Charles Schneider, Steve Chirico, John Krummen, Joe McElroy and John Adair.  Nearly 20 residents attended the forum to listen as candidates discussed their takes on collective bargaining units falling under recent scrutiny, pensions, the role of unions and improving local negotiations. Formed in 2010, the Coalition of Naperville Collective Bargaining Units' mission is to promote and protect the benefits and security of all union employees by …

In this Article:

City Council Sets Police Layoffs in Stone

Council Calls Back One of Six Laid Off Cops

The city council approved a motion Tuesday night that will bring back one of six officers who was laid off late last year in a cost-cutting measure.

Thanks to a majority vote Tuesday by the Naperville City Council, one of six local, laid off police officers will be asked back to the force. But to counter that recall, one police commander will be eliminated, according to council documents. The council voted 8-1 to call back a Naperville police officer who is said to be an asset to the department. City Councilman Richard Furstenau accounted for the lone "no" vote, after saying he believes it's too soon to be asking officers back. The layoffs—a cost-cutting move set in stone with a 7-2 vote by the Naperville City Council at a Dec. 7 meeting—included six of the department’s patrol division officers. A seventh vacant position was not filled as part of the city’s decision. "I am now …

In this Article:

Police Union Granted State Hearing in 'Unfair Bargaining' Case

Bill Kugelberg

5:49 pm on Thursday, February 17, 2011

So according to Grant Wehrli, the officer shouldn't have been let go because "the sixth officer happened to be the best on the force" or it "should be last in, first out. There are other cops that should have been let go first." So which is it, the most junior officers should be let go in a downsizing or the worst performing officers should be let go first. Either way, he's telling me that we …   more ›

Monday, January 31, 2011

Police Union Granted State Hearing in 'Unfair Bargaining' Case

The Naperville police union will go before the Illinois Labor Relations Board at a date yet to be determined.

The local police union announced Monday night that its layoff woes will be addressed during a hearing before the Illinois Labor Relations Board. A date for the hearing has yet to be set, according to a Labor Relations Board ruling marked Jan. 27. Tamara Cummings, attorney for Naperville's Fraternal Order of Police Local 42, filed a complaint with the state Nov. 12, 2010—just four days after six of its officers were told they had 15 days to leave the department. The cuts came less than one week after the city announced that a three-year contract agreement had been reached with the local police union. City Manager Doug Krieger issued a statement at that time saying the 9 percent pay increase included in the contract was too high. Cummings …

In this Article:

City of Naperville

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

City Council Sets Police Layoffs in Stone

Despite resistance from the community, Naperville City Council voted 7-2 to approve the layoffs of six local police officers Tuesday night at its regular meeting.

Any lingering hopes residents had Tuesday that the six police officers who were laid off about a month ago would be called back to work were crushed with the Naperville City Council's 7-2 vote to reduce the number of sworn personnel in the department. The vote was postponed from a Nov. 16 council meeting when a group of at least 450 people funneled into the council chambers after marching about six blocks to protest the layoffs. Many of those same supporters attended Tuesday's regular council meeting and three addressed the council. "I am certain no other city employees leave for work in bulletproof vests," said Tracy Richards, of Naperville, who is married to a police officer. "… It truly disgusts me to hear your lack of respect and value…

In this Article:

City Lays Off Six Police Officers, Hundreds March to City Council Tuesday Chanting "No Layoffs", City of Naperville, and 1 more ›

annoynous

4:16 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Some police departments across the country are laying off over half their department. This deparment is yelling about 6 officers? Then, they want their pay increased??? It's not like the city is facing a crime wave. For crying out loud, it's Naperville. Well, I guess the Naperville, PD didn't get the internal memo, ILLINOIS IS BROKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   more ›

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Hundreds March to City Council Tuesday Chanting "No Layoffs"

Residents showed up in force Tuesday night at the Naperville City Council's regular meeting, during which the issue of recent police layoffs was broached.

About 450 people clutched signs and chanted "no layoffs" Tuesday night outside the Naperville City Municipal Building in the wake of the city's announcement last week that six officers would be cut from the police force. Several hours later, the city council postponed a final decision about the layoffs during its regular meeting. The motion was removed from the meeting's consent agenda, and after about two hours of public comments and discussion, it was tabled pending the council's budget workshop Nov. 30. The council will not come to a vote on the matter until Dec. 7. "I'm not prepared to vote on this," said Councilman Grant Wehrli, who proposed that the item be tabled. "I don't know what the future holds financially. I know that a …

In this Article:

City Lays Off Six Police Officers, City of Naperville Police Department, City of Naperville, and 1 more ›

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Naperville Police to Picket Next Week

The police union announced today, one day after the layoff of six city officers, that it is organizing a picket for Nov. 16.

Naperville police have scheduled an informational picket next week in response to the Monday layoff of six officers. "We've gotten a lot of support from people, not just police officers, but from people in the community and other communities," said Tamara Cummings, attorney for Naperville's Fraternal Order of Police Local 42. "We're just asking people to come forward and show their support publicly. No one is happy about this decision to have layoffs." Participants are gathering Tuesday, Nov. 16, between 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall at 908 W. Jackson Ave., Cummings said. Signs will be provided there. The layoffs include six of the department's least-senior officers from the patrol division, Vince Clark, the …

In this Article:

City Lays Off Six Police Officers

City Lays Off Six Police Officers

Representatives from the city and local police union issued statements Monday evening in response to police department layoffs.

Six Naperville police officers were laid off Monday, and union representatives say "it is the wrong action at precisely the wrong time." "The city is compromising the safety of the community at a time when crime is dramatically high," read a joint statement sent Monday night from Tamara Cummings, attorney of the Naperville's Fraternal Order of Police Local 42, and the union's president, Vince Clark. The layoffs include six of the department's newest officers. In addition, a seventh vacant position will not be filled. All six officers were from the patrol division, Clark said, and their absence will affect late-night staffing. The union now represents about 130 officers. The cuts came less than one week after the city announced that a …

In this Article:

City of Naperville Police Department and City of Naperville

Bill C

10:42 am on Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Over 9% increase in salary? Give me a break. Talk to the 1,000's of Naperville tax-paying citizens looking for work. ENOUGH ALREADY!!   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos

 

Most Popular Articles

  1. Police Investigating Fatal Shooting in South Naperville
  2. Police: Man Found Dead in South Naperville Dumpster Took His Own Life
  3. Mug Shot Monday
  4. Jimmy's Grill Owner Poised to Take Over BlackFinn
  5. Prostitution Sting Nets Naperville Man, BlackFinn Brawl, Residential Development Proposed: Patch Recap

PSST! Want to Contribute?

  • Got a hot tip on news you think everyone should know? Tell us.
  • Just married? New baby? Make honor roll? Add an Announcement
  • Organizing that big block party or poetry reading? Put it on the calendar!
  • Have a great photo of your community?
    Add it to Your Neighborhood Gallery.