HANKS ATTACK ON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY COST TAXPAYERS

OPINION EDITORIAL |Mayor David Hanks wants you to believe he is the "law and order" mayor, but his attack on the Sauk Village Police Department has put taxpayers at huge financial risk.  On the heels of a vote of No Confidence by the ranks and file Sauk Village Fraternal Order of Police earlier in 2015 and the abrupt departure of former Chief of Police Timothy Holevis, Hanks seems to have been waging war in retaliateion against the Sauk Village Police Department for having no confidence in his leadership.  Following Holevis' "retirement" announcement, he refused to allow Rebecca Sailsbery, the duly sworn Deputy Chief of Police to serve as "interim" Chief at the time, and had his political lackey and former  Cook County jail warden JW Fairman, serving as the defacto "chief of police".  Sauk Village faces serious liability stemming from a lawsuit filed by Aisha Michel, mother of a teenage boy,  who was allegedly was arrested and during said arrest the officer had to use less than lethal force upon the teenager following his arrest on July 14, 2015, during JW Fairman's tenure as "Public Safety Director". 

In a Federal lawsuit filed by the by Michel, the lawsuit wrongfully and erroneously claims that “there is no existing

Excerpt from Hanks' Article in September, 2015 Sauk Talk

Departmental General Orders specifically detailing the use of Tasers for the Sauk Village Police Department”.  The suit specifically cites a libelous Mayor David Hanks “Sauk Talk” article where Hanks put the Village in direct liability for this lawsuit by falsely claiming that the Village had no Taser policy in place and then attacked former Chief Timothy Holevis and former Chief Rebecca Sailsbery for being “remiss in their responsibilities…” 

Let’s point out the painfully obvious David Hanks!  You’re public attack on the Sauk Village Police Department has put the TAXPAYERS  and the Village’s Insurance carrier AT RISK!  Furthermore, Mr. Meathead “Mayer”,  as Harry S. Truman said “the buck stops here…”!  You were on the Village Board of Trustees from 1999 until your ascension as “mayer” in November, 2012.  If you knew the Village’s General Orders were not updated since 2005, as you wrongly stated in your venomous and libelous article of September, 2015, then why the hell did you not make immediate changes when you ascended the “throne” in November, 2012?  Why because you know that is a damn lie!

The village has had a Taser Policy dating back to the Cora Beem era when she served as Chief of Police, and you were on the Village Board then too.  You should know that King David!  But now your libelous article has put the taxpayers of Sauk Village at extreme risk!  How does that make the taxpayers “fill” as David Hanks would say?  Pretty empty in the pocket book I say is how you’re “feeling”!

If anyone would like a copy of the lawsuit filed, email me (SaukVillager@gmail.com)!  It’s 22 pages of liability courtesy of David Hanks himself!  Shame on you for causing this to happen to the taxpayers of Sauk Village!

I say GOOD JOB to the Sauk Village Police Officer for not shooting the young man killing him dead!  There is a reason for less than lethal force and when it should be used, herein is a good example in my opinion!

Oh by the way, Sauk Village PD still does use tasers!  As to the lawsuit, the family may have hit the LOTTO BABY courtesy of David Hanks (the Mayor of the village) stupid, vindictive, libelous and venomous attack upon the Sauk Village Police Department .  You want a history lesson on the Hanks family and the Sauk Village Police Department… I could write you a book!

NOTE:  There are two other Federal actions filed by Police Department personnel against David Hanks for his retaliatory actions against them.

HANKS SHOULD RESIGN... NOW!

OPINION EDITORIAL
by Sauk Village Voice

Never before in the history of the Village has a mayor openly criticized his own Police Chief that he himself appointed and other village employees.  David Hanks took the opportunity to criticize former Chief of Police Tim Holevis and current Police Sergeant Rebecca Sailsbery at his meet the mayor event this month claiming they were "destroying the village".

First, David Hanks seems to forget that he appointed Holevis Chief of Police and sang his praises at that time.  In a post on (September 17, 2013) David Hanks’ Facebook page, you know the one he said he never goes on, Hanks said:

Mayor David Hanks considers the appointment a much needed boost for the morale of the department as well as a feeling of stability for the community. Restoring Pride and Progress is a daily battle. Chief Holevis and the entire Police Department have the support of the Mayor and the Board of Trustees to do whatever is needed to provide safety to our residentsMayor David Hanks considers the appointment a much needed boost for the morale of the department as well as a feeling of stability for the community. Restoring Pride and Progress is a daily battle. Chief Holevis and the entire Police Department have the support of the Mayor and the Board of Trustees to do whatever is needed to provide safety to our residentsMayor David Hanks considers the appointment a much needed boost for the morale of the department as well as a feeling of stability for the community. Restoring Pride and Progress is a daily battle. Chief Holevis and the entire Police Department have the support of the Mayor and the Board of Trustees to do whatever is needed to provide safety to our residentsMayor David Hanks considers the appointment a much needed boost for the morale of the department as well as a feeling of stability for the community. Restoring Pride and Progress is a daily battle. Chief Holevis and the entire Police Department have the support of the Mayor and the Board of Trustees to do whatever is needed to provide safety to our residents

“M””Mayor David Hanks considers the appointment (of Tim Holevis) a much needed boost for the morale of the department as well as feeling of stability for the community.  Restoring Pride and Progress is a daily battle.

Chief Holevis and the entire Police Department have the support of the Mayor and Board of Trustees to do whatever is needed to provide safety to our residents”

How does one go from pouring praise upon your own appointee to destroying the police department’s morale and telling the residents of Sauk Village that Holevis and Sailsbery were “destroying the village”.  Oh and now there is no crime in Sauk Village since Holevis left and crime is dramatically down?  Really?  I hope he can smell what he's shoveling!

Second, Hanks has attacked Trustees who do not agree with his political dogma or ask him questions calling them "lazy" and wanting to be "spoon fed".  Hanks stated at a village meeting he wants residents to be arrested and removed from meetings if they go over an arbitrary 3 minute time limit.  Hanks continues to disrespect residents, village employees and Village Trustees whenever the mood strikes him.  He is more concerned about people who talk about him than about moving the village forward.

Third, Hanks is a coward and uses his three Bobble Head trustees Rosie Williams, Lynda Washington and Ed Myers to do his bidding.  Hank’s actions cost him two of his Bobble Heads in April, 2015 and many residents who once supported Hanks and his coalition have abandoned him and realized that he is not what he portrayed himself to be in 2013.  He is a proven LIAR and a hypocrite! 

Now the Village faces a multi-million dollar lawsuit as a result of Hanks’ reckless actions and the residents of Sauk Village will be left to pick up the tab long after Hanks is gone in 2017.  David Hanks you should do the taxpayers of Sauk Village a big favor and give them an early Christmas gift... RESIGN NOW!  But you are too  arrogant and self centered to do that, but the time is now to begin the calls for Hanks’ resignation!  The time is now for residents to begin the process of telling the remaining three Bobble Heads your time is up!  2017 cannot come soon enough, but the time is now for the Bobble Heads to say David Hanks you’re a proven LIAR, we can no longer follow an arrogant liar, self serving hypocrite and misogynistic megalomaniac who is costing taxpayers money by his words and actoins!  But that would take one thing that those three bobble heads clearly do not have!  Integrity!

HANKS AND SOME VILLAGE OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF RETALIATION - EEOC CHARGES FILED

DAVID HANKS (left) and Village Attorney Mike McGrath

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  Deputy Chief of Police Rebecca Sailsbery a 23 year veteran of the Sauk Village Police Force has filed an action with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, required before a Federal lawsuit can be filed, claiming she is being retaliated and discriminated against by Mayor David Hanks, Administrator JW Fairman and other Village officials.

Following the abrupt retirement and resignation of former Chief Timothy Holevis, Sailsbery has been blocked from being sworn-in as "acting/interim chief" which should have happened automatically according to the department's general orders until a new Chief was appointed.  Instead Hanks ordered Sailsbery to assume the duties but not the position or title.  Sailbury argues that it is because she had previously won an EEOC complaint and the Village settled with her, Holevis and former employee Lisa Gibbons.  Gibbons was "layed off" and not recalled despite the Village having several opportunities and hires since her so called layoff.  In 2010, during the administration of Lewis Tower when former Chief of Police Frank Martin was terminated, Holevis was sworn-in as "acting/interim" Chief of Police.  Holevis at that time was not the deputy chief but the senior Sergeant on the day shift.

Apparently the discrimination and retaliation did not end there according to the complaint.  Gibbons has already filed another EEOC complaint against the Village.

Hanks, according to the supplement to the EEOC complaint, violated the Police Department Chain of Command, posted a notice that Sailsbury would remain Deputy Chief "until further notice" while all other police officers would retain their positions, violated the Police Officers Bill of Rights as an investigation was conducted without notification.  Finally the supplement to the EEOC complaint states that Hanks "traditional" views of women in the workforce are frowned upon and are expected to wear skirts instead of pants.

Sailsbury has stated she did apply to become chief of police.  According to Hanks 24 people have applied for the position.  Hanks appointed Fairman along with Trustees Rosie Williams and Cecial Tates to serve as a committee to search for a Chief of Police.  "We have yet to have a formal meeting with all of us present" Tates said.  According to Tates they were given each candidates resumes and asked to rank each candidate.  None of the results were shared with other committee members according to Tates.  "Not like any committee I had ever been on when you never meet to discuss anything" Tates said.

"According to the Mayor he gets to make the appointment the Village Board vote doesn't matter" Tates said.  "He has made that quite clear when it came to appointing committees and the courts already ruled on this same matter with former Village employees which the village is still in litigation over.  So let's just cut out the nonsense and move forward" Tates said.

Hanks has made no public comment regarding the EEOC complaint which was filed in earlier of this year.

Murders Top Headlines of 2014 - Top 10 Stories

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  As 2014 comes to a close in the next few hours, I wanted to reflect on the top 10 stories that made the news.  Sauk Village's murders definitely took the top spot in the news as the number of murders has increased!  Many good people, long-time residents and friends were lost along the way.


#10:  FEBRUARY 19, 2014:

FORWARD MOTIONS NOW WILL INCLUDE LAYOFFS- 23 Year Veteran & Deputy Fire Chief Axed

 

 

Lisa Gibbons

 

SAUK VILLAGE|  A 23 year veteran employee of the Sauk Village Police Department and the Deputy Fire Chief were axed by the Hanks Administration today.

Police Chief Timothy Holevis was summoned to the office of Mayor David Hanks early Wednesday morning who apparently gave the order to place Lisa Gibbons on layoff status.  It was also learned today that another head would roll.  Deputy Fire Chief Rich Atwood, a longtime veteran fire fighter was also placed on “layoff” status today.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....

 

 

 

 

#9 MARCH 23, 2014:

TRAVELGATE: ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMANDS VILLAGE CLERK RELEASE ALL RECORDS

 

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS

SAUK VILLAGE | After a 7 month battle with the Village and their attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has finally determined that the Village  possessed records responsive to our Freedom of Information Act request from July, 2013 and has violated the Freedom of Information Act.  “The vindication by the Illinois Attorney General shows that this Village Clerk and this Mayor have been anything but open, honest, transparent or accountable to the people” Joseph Wiszowaty states. 

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....

 

 

#8 APRIL 29, 2014:

4 TO 3 VOTE HIRES CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

 

Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak
Sauk Village's new Superintendent of Schools

SAUK VILLAGE |  School District 168 School Board approved hiring the controversial candidate for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak to replace retiring Superintendent Al Travaglini.  Travaglini took over as Superintendent in 2011.

The vote to hire Leak was 4 to 3 voting yes were Mary Howard sister to Sauk Village Mayor David Hanks, Aisa El-Amin, Deloris Green and Jimo Kasali and voting no were School Board President Sharon Davenport, Tammy Jones and Melvin Stevenson.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

#7 JULY 23, 2014:

WATERGATE SCANDAL GROWS, WATER FUNDS TAKEN, COMMISSIONER REMOVED AND RESIDENTS WONDER

LtoR Housing Commissioners Heidi Parker, Gary Holcomb

and Sharon Nowak

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  Controversy has fallen on the Sauk Village Housing Commission and calls for investigations have quietly begun.  The new scandal involves the Village's water fund which has been under intense public scrutiny given the Village's past practice of balancing the budget with water funds.  Residents were paying $3.50 per 1000 gallons of water are now paying $7.50 per 1000 gallons and bills have skyrocketed.

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

 

 

 

#6 SEPTEMBER 23, 2014:

SAILSBERY SWORN-IN AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Rebecca Sailsbery was sworn-in as Deputy Chief of Police once again last week privately and formally Tuesday night during the Village Board of Trustees meeting.  Sailsbery previously had served as Deputy Chief of Police from 2007 to 2010 and Interim Chief of Police from October 2010 to December, 2010.

Sailsbery has been serving as the Department’s Administrative Sergeant since 2010 through the tumultuous times of former Chief Frank Martin, who had the shortest tenure in Sauk Village history.  Also, during the 18 months of Tim Holevis as “acting” Chief of Police, the temporary Chief of Police Robert Fox from November, 2011 to November 1, 2012....

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING... 

 

 

#5 OCTOBER 12, 2014:

Beware of Politicians Bearing Gifts at Election Time...

especially $4.8 million

 

SAUK VILLAGE | Governor Pat Quinn came to Sauk Village at election time to announce a $4.8 million grant as part of his multi-billion dollar clean water initiative Saturday afternoon.  Quinn is in for the race of his political life this November and every vote counts which is why some question the timing of this announcement!  Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, who just picked up the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune and Crains Chicago Business, has been doing well in polling.  Polls show Rauner with a slight advantage while other show a dead heat. 

 

#4 SEPTEMBER 8, 2014: 

ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES SAUK VILLAGE VIOLATED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

DEBBIE WILLIAMS

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS MUST DISCLOSE DETAILS ON TRAVELGATE

SAUK VILLAGE| The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office issued a rare 10 page binding opinion against the Village of Sauk Village concerning a request for information about Village Clerk Debbie Williams’, her daughter Village Trustee Rosie Williams and a Village vendor Patricia Couch’s trip to Washington D.C. in July, 2013 to attend the Building One America conference.  Madigan’s office declared in their opinion that the Village had “violated the (Freedom of Information) Act” by not providing full and complete disclosure about the trip, which they determined was subject to public disclosure.

 

***CLICK HERE*** TO VIEW THE 10 PAGE I.A.G. OPINION

 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

 

#3 SEPTEMBER 14, 2014:

Youth Gunned Down in Sauk Village

Duane McCray- Courtesy of
Facebook

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE | Another young man was killed Saturday on the streets of Sauk Village, the third since June of this year. 

 

Duane McCray, 20, was shot in the 21700 block of Peterson Avenue in Sauk Village, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:40 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said.  McCray attended Sauk Village schools and Bloom Trail High School.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

 

 

#2 JUNE 7, 2014:

MAN DEAD, WOMAN STABLE FOLLOWING SHOOTING

John McIntyre

Contributions by: Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE | A man was pronounced dead and a woman was in stable condition Saturday following shootings in Sauk Village, police there said.

At 12:05 a.m., Sauk Village police responded to a call of a woman in the 2100 block of 217th Street with a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found a 19-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the face and a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

 

#1 STORY OF 2014...  AUGUST 19, 2014:

2 CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF NATE BURNS

Nate Burns killed August 14th

MARKHAM | On August 14, 2014 at approximately 1:45pm, the Sauk Village Police 911 Center received a report of several people shot, in the 1700 Block of Sauk Trail Rd., Sauk Village, Illinois.  Upon arrival, officers learned 4 people had been wounded by gunfire.  All the victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment.  One male victim, Nathaniel Burns, 16, of Sauk Village later died from his injuries. 

During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned the identity of three suspects.  Two suspects have been apprehended and were both charged late Monday night by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.  Charged with First Degree Murder are Lamika Overall, 19, of Steger and Shaquille Wilson, 20 of Sauk Village.

 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

SAILSBERY SWORN-IN AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE

by Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Rebecca Sailsbery was sworn-in as Deputy Chief of Police once again last week privately and formally Tuesday night during the Village Board of Trustees meeting.  Sailsbery previously had served as Deputy Chief of Police from 2007 to 2010 and Interim Chief of Police from October 2010 to December, 2010.

Sailsbery has been serving as the Department’s Administrative Sergeant since 2010 through the tumultuous times of former Chief Frank Martin, who had the shortest tenure in Sauk Village history.  Also, during the 18 months of Tim Holevis as “acting” Chief of Police, the temporary Chief of Police Robert Fox from November, 2011 to November 1, 2012 when the Fire Chief Al Stoffregan became the defacto Chief of Police after the Village Board eliminated the Chief of Police position to prevent Lewis Towers from keeping Fox.  Holevis was then appointed Deputy Chief of Police until after the election in 2013 when the reinstated the position of Chief of Police. 

Mayor David Hanks hired an outside firm to find a Chief of Police in 2013, then reversed course suddenly and appointed Tim Holevis, a 28 year veteran of the Department and Sergeant as Chief of Police.  Hanks then used the firm to conduct a search for a Deputy Chief, despite the fact that the Department had qualified internal candidates.  In the end Sailsbery was the one that the firm recommended, however, the appointment has taken over 1 year to become a reality.

Sailsbery was hired by the Sauk Village Police Department in April, 1993 and served as a Patrol Officer until 2000 when she was promoted to Juvenile Investigator where she worked closely with the Sauk Village Schools and assisted in managing the now defunct Police Cadet program.  In 2002, Sailsbery was promoted to Sergeant, elected as union representative and also to the Sauk Village Police Pension Board.  In 2007 she was appointed Deputy Chief of Police by former Chief of Police Tom Lacheta and was served on the Village’s 9-1-1 Board.

Sailsbery has recently completed her Masters Degree in Public Administration from Governors State University and also a Bachelorette Degree in Law Enforcement Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph. 

“I’m very happy to serve the people of Sauk Village for the last 21 years and I’m proud to be a member of the Sauk Village Police Department” Sailsbery said. 

Details of Salisbury’s employment agreement were available Tuesday night.

VILLAGE SETTLES FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION SUITS

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |   The Village Board of Trustees approved settlements for Chief of Police Timothy Holevis and Sergeant Rebecca Sailsbery Tuesday night.

Lawsuits filed in Federal Court stem from discrimination allegations filed naming former Mayor Lewis Towers and former Village Trustee Enoch Benson.  The lawsuits were filed separately by attorney Patrick Walsh of Elliot Zinger and Associates of Chicago.

The settlements, according to Mayor David Hanks will give a cash payment of $103,000 to Holevis and $65,000 to Sailsbery.  Additionally, the Village will "continue negotiations with Sailsbery" to appoint her Deputy Chief of Police.  The Village taxpayers will be on the hook for the first $100,000 according to the terms of the Village's insurance carrier.

Holevis was appointed Chief of Police by Hanks last year, but still does not have a contract with the village identifying his term of employment.  Under Illinois law, the Chief of Police is appointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the Village Board; however, as demonstrated by Towers the mayor has extraordinary powers to appoint whomever he wants without approval of the Village Board provide a position is open.

Sailsbery was identified as the top candidate for Deputy Chief by the REM Group who was brought in to perform loss mitigation by the Village's insurance carrier.  REM was later paid by the Village to search for a Chief of Police, once Hanks appointed Holevis they were requested to search for a Deputy Chief.  REM identified Sailsbery as the top Deputy Chief of Police candidate, however, she has yet to be formally appointed.  Sailsbery previously has served as Deputy Chief of Police up until the controversial appointment of Frank Martin was approved in 2010.

Holevis, Sailsbery and now former Village employee Lisa Gibons filed a joint federal lawsuit, charging among other things discrimination against the Village during Martins brief tenure as Chief.  The Village settled this action for several hundred thousand dollars.