At last Monday's City Council meeting, Aldermen voted to move forward with a Request for Proposal (.pdf) for an "audit" of the Park Ridge Police Department. "Audit" is the preferred term being used by city insiders to describe what is, in fact, supposed to be an independently conducted investigation into purported problems with our police department.
There is a ton of back-story to each of the items on the audit list. But because these matters involve personnel below the level of Department head, and because the PRU Crew would like to see this investigation conducted with something resembling integrity (though we aren't holding our breath), we are only going to discuss list item "g" at this time.
Last week an article in the Journal & Topics reported, Council Requests Bids for Police Investigation. In that article it is noted that, "The land purchase item spurred some discussion among council members. Ald Don Bach (3d) said, 'I don't see how this is going to make the police department better.' Ald. Robert Ryan (5th) also questioned the land purchase activity listing. 'I do not see where (the listing) fits in here,' he said. 'I think it should be struck'."
We can't explain Ald. DreadBach's opposition, but we do view him as generally dim-witted and uninformed. But Benedict Alderman Ryan won't be getting a pass from the Crew, because we believe we know exactly why he wanted the item "struck" from the list.
As many regular PRU readers may remember, Park Ridge almost had a new police station back in 2004. We posted a link to PublicWatchdog.org for their article: The Park Ridge Police Station That Almost Was.
In the Pub-dogs piece we are told about a local realtor who tried to make a quick buck off the backs of his friends and neighbors, Park Ridge taxpayers. He got caught and was eventually disciplined for his "dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public" by the State of Illinois' Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
That local realtor is Owen J. Hayes, II who was also the treasurer for Benedict Ald. Ryan’s 5th Ward campaign. Mr. Hayes has also been one of Mayor Howard's campaign contributors.
As we said, we believe we know exactly why Benedict Ald. Ryan wanted the item struck from the investigation list. We believe Benedict Ald. Ryan was trying to cover up for his buddy, or at the least, not allow the subject of his campaign treasurer's unethical conduct to be raised anew. Alderman Wsooooolman boxed Ryan into a corner by responding, "If there is nothing there, what are we afraid of?" Again, Prudos to Ald. Wsooooolman for being unafraid to confront the truth.
Benedict Alderman Ryan also wasn't keen on the idea of citizen input. Is he ever?
Whatever the investigation produces, we hope it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And we hope the powers that be at 505 Butler Place are willing to tell that truth to the Park Ridge public. Really, we can handle it.
February 19, 2008
Boxed-In Bob.
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9 comments:
I have a question. Doesn’t Owen Hayes have some role in the Park Ridge Farmers Market? I see the Mayor there all the time with him.
That's the kind of thing that just makes somebody like Ryan look even sleazier. And worse yet, he apparently felt he could get away with it - probably thought nobody could/would connect those dots.
Good job, PRU.
On the one hand, I don't believe the PD or other City officials were in on the improper Busse Highway activities, having been taken in themselves. On the other hand, this may be our only chance to get those activities out there in the spotlight.
"G" should stay in.
In other words, m. anderson favors the "G" spot.
With a guy like Owen Hayes in charge of the money, no wonder 70% of Robert Ryan's campaign contributions aren't itemized.
Hayes is the chairman of the Farmers Market. It's not a City committee, but it's listed on the City website anyway.
m. anderson, it's unimaginable that nobody inside city government knew about hayes' dual roles in the busse property when (a) the attempt to purchase it came out of the blue (b) at a time when the city wasn't even actively shopping for a new police station, and (c) it was immediately pursued by the city mgr. and a council made up of hayes cronies like howard frimark, dawn disher, etc.
e.e.-
You make an interesting point. I wasn't really referring to elected officeholders; it's the staff that I felt was clean in that case. As for elected officials, that's a tougher call. Question now is whether it's worth looking at when only one crony (Howard) is still around.
I still say yes.
Since the Chief finally announced the worst kept secret in the world today, that he's gone March 14th with a black cloud over his head, how much of the audit is really necessary?
Maybe the City should save their money for the future audits.
When hizonner Mayor Howard's political puppet Chief comes in from DPPD and causes all kinds of problems, the money can be spent investigating her and Howard.
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