County ordinance affects Dep. Novak?

There is a McHenry County ordinance that Sheriff Nygren and Undersheriff Zinke ought to review. And maybe the County Administrator and the State's Attorney might dust it off, too. Especially since Nygren doesn't seem to have the best track record for disciplining deputies who stray off the beaten path.

Check out Section 11-109 Use of Confidential Information. It reads, "It shall be unethical for any employee or former employee to knowingly use confidential information for actual or anticipated personal gain, or for the actual or anticipated personal gain of any other person."

Section 11-111 covers sanctions. What are the sanctions for unethical conduct?

While these sections appear to be in section of the County's vendor or employment manual, could these section apply to the actions and activities of former Detective Novak (now "just" Deputy Novak) when he allegedly converted his relationship with a confidential informant in a drug-dealing crime to a personal, sexual relationship.

How naive was Novak to think he could say something like, "Don't tell anyone. I could get in trouble." Duhhhh.....

Of course, she was going to tell someone. Like, maybe, to save her own neck? To save her boyfriend's neck?

More importantly, what are the Illinois statutes about using the use of "color of office" by  a law enforcement officer uses his official capacity to gain something from a member of the public? Was that a factor in this case?

And which of the General Orders at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department apply in this case? Don't Novak's actions bring discredit on the Department?

Public outrage already building over Novak

The outrage of honest deputies at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department is already building. Thanks for the texts and emails this morning.

Of course, I cannot answer the questions about why Nygren and Zinke did not fire Deputy Jason Novak, after they learned earlier this year that he had become "inappropriately" involved with a confidential informant in a drug case.

Of course, that informant is no longer confidential. Although not identified by name in the newspaper, she apparently lived in the house with defendant Christopher Branham in Crystal Lake and is referred to as "Fiance" (sic).

What criminal laws, if any, did Novak break by becoming sexually involved with the informant?

What CALEA standards did he break? What MCSD rules and regulations did he break?

What failure was there on the part of command personnel in the McHenry County Sheriff's Department to supervise Novak properly?

Should he have been demoted from detective? In fact, is "demotion" even the right word? Detective is not a rank; it's an assignment. Demotion would be like from Lieutenant to Sergeant.

The honest, hard-working deputies of the Sheriff's Department want change. They don't want this happening within MCSD or anywhere in law enforcement. When it does happen, the honest deputies want it dealt with openly, above-board, promptly and sternly.

The only way that positive change will occur at MCSD is the end of the Nygren reign and the shifting of current command personnel. A new sheriff from outside the Department is absolutely necessary to accomplish that.

Det. Slick slips, but keeps job

Back on May 23, 2012, I wrote an article in which I addressed the impropriety and problems when a detective has a sexual relationship with a confidential informant. At the time I didn't use the detective's name.

This morning's Northwest Herald carries a story about the felony drug charges against Christopher Branham, 43, of Crystal Lake. His attorney, Hal Stinespring, wants the charges thrown out. Judge Prather will address that motion further on October 18.

The story relates how "then-Detective Jason Novak" of the Narcotics Division of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department developed more than a business relationship with a confidential informant, the girlfriend of Branham. One thing led to another, including phone calls, text messages and that she "then performed a sex act on him (Novak)" at Novak's residence.

"Slick", as the informant called then-Detective Novak, and the Narcotics Task Force, went to Branham's residence and was allowed by the woman informant to search for drugs. No mention is made in the Northwest Herald article of a search warrant.

If you want the lurid details of the relationship, read the Northwest Herald article.

It's nice to know how seriously Sheriff Nygren took Novak's gross violation of MCSD rules and regulations. "The department holds officers to a higher standard, Nygren said."

Yeah, sure...

Nygren is quoted as saying, "We will deal with transgressions when they come to our attention, and I think we always have. It would have been easy for us to cut the guy some slack, but we didn't do that here."

Oh, really? Of course, Nygren cut him some slack. A lot of slack. Novak still has a job!

I'll bet that somewhere in the Illinois statutes is a law that prohibits "Slick's" actions. Maybe something about "colors of office"; that is, using his "power" as a deputy to influence a person.

Just how seriously did Nygren take Slick's "transgressions"? Slick got ten days off without pay, and he got transferred to Patrol.

Tell me, folks. Why didn't Nygren fire Slick? Is Slick one of the in-crowd at MCSD? Must be...

McHenry County is screaming for a new sheriff. The new sheriff had better come from outside the department and be someone with no ties to the Department. Hopefully, the new sheriff will be someone who will clean house. He should dump the top rows at MCSD and put in people he can trust.

How many deputies and supervisors knew that Slick was having an improper and probably illegal relationship with a confidential informant? Why didn't the head of the detective division know it? He should have been reading Slick's reports and asking questions. Why didn't he? And why didn't the Undersheriff know? And do something about it!

If I knew about it on May 23, who else knew?