Saturday, October 13, 2012

Did Nygren ever suspend Pyle?

Did Sheriff Nygren ever suspend Sgt. Greg Pyle, after he was charged in January and jailed in McHenry County Jail? Did Pyle ever resign?

My guess is that he is still carried as an employee, on administrative leave (not even unpaid leave, since that would have to go to the Merit Commission).

I've been following Merit Commission proceedings pretty carefully, and it seems to me that Nygren has never made the trip across the street to put Pyle's matter before the Commission.

Today I happened to read this:

55 ILCS 5/3-8016 (from Ch. 34, par. 3-8016) Reports to Merit Commission.

The sheriff shall promptly notify the Merit Commission of all appointments, permanent or temporary, all promotions, suspensions, resignations or vacancies from any cause, and a record of the same shall be kept by the Commission. The sheriff shall prepare and furnish to the Commission annual efficiency reports for each person covered by merit system. The sheriff shall also furnish the Commission copies of all letters of commendation, academic achievements and reprimand and such other reports as the Commission may reasonably request. (Emphasis added.)
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

See that little five-letter word "shall" there? The sheriff doesn't have a choice. Shall means shall. Not may. Not will. Not could.

When he doesn't? Could Sheriff Nygren be charged with violating 55 ILCS 5/3-8016?

The problem, of course, with the McHenry County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission is that they wouldn't dare "reasonably request" any letters of reprimand or "other reports".

Having read this, I believe that the Merit Commission could have requested reports and even action from Nygren earlier this year, when I addressed them and inquired why they weren't pushing the pile with Pyle.

The Merit Commission is supposed to serve the People of McHenry County, not serve the Sheriff. But recently someone re-wrote the Purpose of the Merit Commission. Who did that?

The Commissioners didn't even know the Purpose (or Mission) had been re-written. It got watered down and the "serve the People of McHenry County" part got dumped. Who was responsible for that?

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