VILLAGE LEAVES EMPLOYEE OUT IN THE COLD

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  When it comes to taking their share of hits, the Sauk Village Police Department has been relentlessly beaten up by the Village lately.

Sauk Village Police Officer Jason Gondek and Police Records Clerk Emily Walker both lost their battles with cancer in 2014 and long-time resident and Police Dispatcher Kimberly Clark has been fighting the battle for many months.  "Jason and I were diagnosed within 3 weeks of each other and I was in treatment for Emily's funeral services" Clark said.  "The (Police) Department is our own separate family.  We sometimes spend more time with them than our own families.  My journey is nowhere near over" Clark said.

 

Clark served as a dispatcher up until May 1st when Mayor David Hanks and 5 of the Trustees supported a move to terminate their dispatchers and contract the service out giving virtually no notice.   Clark was out of work on Federal Family and Medical Leave during this time and receiving treatment for her cancer.

Clark found out that her job was being eliminated, not because she received an official announcement, but because of social media.  "I found out on Facebook that the 911 center was being closed" Clark said.

 

"I am on 16 medications a day. On May 2, I went to get my medication I was told it was over $185. I said no our insurance was extended 90 days so it's a $15 copay each" Clark said.  Unfortunately the pharmacist told Clark that her insurance was cancelled on May 1st while other dispatchers' insurance was extended out 90 days.

Clark is suffering from 2 types of cancer, lung and breast.  Clark has been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy and was scheduled to have the cancer in her breast dealt with but now her doctors and surgeons will not touch her without insurance.  "Now all breast issues are on indefinite hold until I get insurance. I hate having to choose between groceries or my medication" Clark said.

So what has Clark been doing about her situation?  "my first thought was fear. What do I do now?  I'm only half way through the process. Not only that, the statistics of stage 3 lung cancer survival is not in my favor anyway" Clark said.  Her fear quickly turned into anger as she had given alot of her time to serving the people of Sauk Village.

"As you know, (a dispatcher's job) is a 24/7 job. All the holidays missed with your family, plans cancelled due to mandatory overtime with only 2 hours notice. And I never complained because I loved my job and was grateful to have it ! I felt like I found my passion and had it ripped out from under my feet with no warning! I was angry and incredibly disappointed that an Administration who campaigned on "transparency & bringing pride back to our town" couldn't even be honest enough with me to tell me my job was gone, I felt angry and professionally betrayed" Clark said.

Clark has been forced to file for assistance but it is a long and arduous process and she fears her life will be in the hands of some government doctor who decides her fate based on some checklist.

Clark is thankful for all the support and prayers of the Sauk Village community.  "I want to simply say thank you to everyone who has been supportive, including my mom, dad, my fiancé, my daughter my family and friends" Clark said.  "I'm not giving up, but I'm very disappointed" she said.  "I have family and friend, but most of all I have faith.  My journey is nowhere near over.  I'm determined to be a survivor" Clark said.

Kim's friends have set up a Go Fund Me Account and are asking for assistance: CLICK HERE FOR LINK

EDITORIAL NOTE:  Kim we wish you well and send your our prayers.  We know you're a fighter and you've got alot of people who send you their love and prayers.