Stanard Loses Round 2

If you want to read something that will get your blood boiling, be sure to read the Daily Herald article about Mike Stanard's losing Round 2 in U.S. District Court in Waukegan. Here's the whole story: www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=267548&#storycomments

Some time back (Summer 2007?) the McHenry County Sheriff's Department told Stanard that he must -- that's m-u-s-t -- use deputies for security at the preposterous hourly rate of $40.00! No matter that a business can hire a rent-a-cop for $15.00/hour. As I recall from reading local newspapers at the time, the sheriff threatened to shut down Greenwood Road, if Stanard tried to hold a concert at Galt Airport without hiring deputies.

The newspaper used the word "shakedown" in its article today; at the time this all happened, a different word came to mind. The Stanards used another word: extortion.

U.S. District Court Judge Kapala didn't like the case last August, but he gave Stanard and his attorney time to clarify their claims and refile the case. According to the Daily Herald article today, "Several attempts to do so, Kapala states in his ruling, failed to make the claims any more clear or came in too late or too sloppy to consider."

Not clear enough??? Came in too late??? "too sloppy to consider"??? Who was Stanard's lawyer? Will I have to drive to Waukegan to find out?

I didn't like the smell of the Sheriff's actions when I first heard about them. And I don't like his comments now about this case.

Apparently, Sheriff Nygren is considering a a lawsuit against Stanard to recover the county's defense costs, saying that he (the sheriff) would even use his own money to pursue that lawsuit, according to the Daily Herald.

I for one do not agree that Stanard "made a public spectacle out of this to discredit this department and the people who work here..." He protested a serious - a very serious - and improper demand made by the sheriff's department. Stanard's lawsuit is almost in the public interest to make even more public what had happened and to get it in front of the people of McHenry County.

And now, for the sheriff to threaten a lawsuit and say he'll even use his own money to pursue it, illustrates an abuse of power and of the office he holds. No wonder deputies are complaining about retaliation and retribution!

Illinois needs a law allowing the recall of elected officials. We're seeing enough of a spectacle in Springfield this week. We certainly do not need or want this bullying in McHenry County. The job of law enforcement is to protect and to serve. Has this been forgotten in McHenry County?