Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Where is Dep. Milliman? Back at work?

I think it was back in November that Dep. Scott Milliman of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department gave a deposition in the Federal lawsuit by Dep. Zane Seipler against Sheriff Keith Nygren, the sheriff's department and a number of deputies. Of course, the public shouldn't know about that deposition or its contents, but it seems that the sheriff told the undersheriff to give it to Jose Rivera (La Rosita Grocery), and the Northwest Herald ended up with a copy.

Dep. Milliman was placed on paid administrative leave. Seems that the sheriff may not have liked some of the things that were said under oath in the deposition. Okay, I realize that's redundant...

What is Dep. Milliman's status? Is he still on paid administrative leave? Is he still receiving a paycheck but not at work? Does he still have all his department uniforms? Has the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission been scheduled to hear any request from Sheriff Nygren to terminate Milliman? Not according to any agendas of the Merit Commission, which cancels most of its monthly meetings.

The Merit Commission is thought by some to be merely a rubber stamp of the Sheriff, rather than an independent public body whose members are confirmed by the McHenry County Board. You can view the names of the members of the Merit Commission at http://www.mchenrysheriff.org/ No information is published about two men who have been members since 2002. William Mack and Brian Goode are pictured, but no profiles are provided. Goode is connected to RITA Corporation in Crystal Lake.

What is the status of Milliman's employment? If any reason of the sheriff for taking Milliman off duty is unfounded, then Milliman should be put back to work.

Deputies are choosing to go to arbitration, rather than taking their chances with the Merit Commission. I don't blame them. And arbitration has proved to be successful for deputies, when fighting for their jobs.

What's up?

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