Lake Forest Police, Fire Commissioners Will Investigate SRO's Conduct at Deer Path

Mayor James Cowhey asked the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners on Monday night to investigate inappropriate remarks made by a student resource officer to a then 22-year-old intern while she was at in 2009.

This is an extension of the circumstances surrounding the same intern's contact with then , who later was charged and convicted of misdemeanor harassment by electronic communication for sexually explicit text messages, voice mails and a lewd photo in 2009. .

The student resource officer, 10-year police veteran Jeff Sulkin, has been reassigned until the investigation is finished, and the District 67 student resource officer program is evaluated by the city.

Cowhey's remarks came after the Lake Forest City Council met in executive session for an hour.

He did not expand on his remarks, but read from a prepared press release that follows below:

After holding an executive session with the Lake Forest City Council at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 21, Mayor James J. Cowhey, Jr. will direct the (Board of Fire and Police Commissioners) to investigate the circumstances surrounding allegations of inappropriate conversations involving a Police Department Student Resource Officer (SRO).

The SRO has been temporarily reassigned and won’t resume his duties until the investigation is complete and the District 67 SRO program is evaluated by the City.

The matter is not on the published agenda for tonight’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting. This press release will be read into the record of tonight’s City Council meeting.

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is an established independent Board, comprised of Lake Forest residents, and is required by State Statute. It makes promotional appointments, conducts hearings and takes action to suspend or discharge members of the Fire and Police Departments. The Mayor, with the concurrence of the City Council, appoints members to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, who are recommended by the Lake Forest Caucus.

Allegations that the SRO made inappropriate remarks were made by a 22-year-old former intern who worked with the Police Department in early 2008, occasionally assigned to work with the SRO. In January of 2009, the Lake Forest Police Department was informed that the Gurnee Police Department was conducting an investigation concerning the Deer Path Middle School Principal and that the SRO was named in their report.

Gurnee police said the police officer was not a target of the investigation, nor was there any indication that the officer had committed a crime. Gurnee police also indicated that the SRO was not in any way associated with the complaint filed against the school principal.

The intern did not file any complaints with the Lake Forest Police Department, and when evaluating her internship experience, gave only positive reviews.

The Lake Forest Police Department’s internship program typically engages interns for one college semester each, and those students work with the entire Police Department, including the School Resource Officer.

The Department does not actively seek interns, but responds to applications, most often from Lake Forest College students. The Department has accommodated 12 interns since 2005, when the program was introduced.

The School Resource Officer program in District 67 has been in place for at least 10 years and also takes place within District 115. The program allows police officers and students to interact and provide mentorship opportunities for the youth in the community.

The District 67 Board of Education has been elected by residents of Lake Forest since 1993. The Lake Forest Mayor and City Council has no legal oversight concerning the School Board and its duties and responsibilities.

City Manager Robert R. Kiely, Jr., states that “The City of Lake Forest and the Police Department take any allegations of employee misconduct very seriously. In accordance with Illinois State Law and City Personnel Policies, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners will conduct its investigation and report their findings back to the City Council.”

The SRO has been temporarily reassigned, and won’t resume his duties until the investigation is complete and the District 67 SRO program is evaluated by the City.

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The city also provided a timeline of the internship as shown below:

Lake Forest Police Department Internship Timeline

Jan. 14, 2008: Internship begins with the Lake Forest College student intern.

March 29, 2008: Midpoint internship evaluation completed by the Internship Coordinator.

May 5, 2008: Final internship evaluation completed by Internship Coordinator.

May 7, 2008: Successful completion of internship.

Jan. 3, 2009: Telephone harassment reported to the Gurnee Police Department by former intern, who had completed her work with the Lake Forest Police Department the previous May.

As part of Gurnee’s investigation, the Lake County States Attorney reviewed the complaint and concluded there were no wrongdoings performed by the School Resource Officer (SRO).

Jan. 2009: Informal notification by Gurnee Police Department of investigation concerning the Deer Path Middle School Principal. Lake Forest Police Department Student Resource Officer (SRO) named in the report, but not as a suspect or part of the investigation.

Jan. 28, 2009: Deer Path Middle School Principal arrested by Gurnee Police Department for telephone harassment.

Nov. 16, 2011: The City of Lake Forest receives a copy of non-redacted Gurnee police report upon the request of School District 67 Superintendent. Allegations of improper conversations with SRO contained in report.

Mayor James Cowhey asked the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Monday night to investigate inappropriate remarks made by a student resource officer (SRO) to a then 22-year-old intern while she was at _ in 2009.

This is an extension of the circumstances surrounding the same intern's contact with then _, who was later charged and convicted  of misdemeanor harassment by electronic communication for sexually explicit text messages, voice mails and a lewd photo in 2009. _

The SRO has been reassigned until the investigation is finished, and the District 67 SRO program is evaluated by the city.

Cowhey's remarks came after the Lake Forest City Council met in executive session for an hour.

He did not expand on his remarks, but read from a prepared press release that follows below:

****

The city also provided a timeline of the internship as shown below:

Lake Forest Police Department Internship Timeline

Jan. 14, 2008: Internship begins with the Lake Forest College student intern.

March 29, 2008: Midpoint internship evaluation completed by the Internship Coordinator.

May 5, 2008: Final internship evaluation completed by Internship Coordinator.

May 7, 2008: Successful completion of internship.

Jan. 3, 2009: Telephone harassment reported to the Gurnee Police Department by former intern, who had completed her work with the Lake Forest Police Department the previous May.

As part of Gurnee’s investigation, the Lake County States Attorney reviewed the complaint and concluded there were no wrongdoings performed by the School Resource Officer (SRO).

Jan. 2009: Informal notification by Gurnee Police Department of investigation concerning the Deer Path Middle School Principal. Lake Forest Police Department Student Resource Officer (SRO) named in the report, but not as a suspect or part of the investigation.

Jan. 28, 2009: Deer Path Middle School Principal arrested by Gurnee Police Department for telephone harassment.

Nov. 16, 2011: The City of Lake Forest receives a copy of non-redacted Gurnee police report upon the request of School District 67 Superintendent. Allegations of improper conversations with SRO contained in report.