Island Lake PD chief placed on leave

Island Lake Police Chief Anthony Sciarrone is off-duty, after being placed on paid administrative leave by Island Lake Mayor Debbie Herrmann. Herrmann informed the Village Board by e-mail, rather than conferring with them or convening a special or emergency Village Board meeting to discuss any problems with Chief Sciarrone.

It wasn't the first time that Herrmann has inserted herself in police department matters. Early in January she reached across Sciarrone's desk and put a part-time officer on administrative leave. According to a Northwest Herald article late this afternoon, that officer has not returned to work and has not been paid.

What could Mayor Herrmann have to say about this? She could say, "I am the decider."

Do they have a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in Island Lake? Has that officer be accorded Due Process? His discipline should be a public record by now, including his name and the reason for his suspension.

It was back on May 4 that an Island Lake police officer wrote about 13 tickets to a motorist after following him for three whole blocks. That officer included a felony charge of destroying handcuffs, after the cuffs broke while fastened around the driver's wrists.

Any idea what amount of pressure ought to be required to break handcuffs? Your arms will break first.