Jerome
police chief Craig Kennedy has been laid off.
Today
was Kennedy’s last day on the job. He said that he wasn’t surprised when he was
told last week that he would be laid off. He said it was a matter of money in
the village that ceased 24/7 patrols late last year due to a cash crunch that
village officials say is a matter of declining tax revenue. Kennedy said that
the village barely made payroll this month.
“The
finances just keep getting worse and worse and worse,” Kennedy said. “Of
course, the police department is the biggest department in the village of
Jerome. The only thing there was to cut was people. Since I made the most, I
figured I would be the first to go.”
Kennedy
had worked fulltime as a village police officer for more than a decade and was
a part-time officer for five years before moving to fulltime status.
Officer
Mark Estill has been appointed acting chief, according to officer Glenn Tuxhorn.
Kennedy’s departure brings the number of fulltime officers to five, but one is out
due to an on-the-job injury. Tuxhorn said that the department is relying on
Leland Grove and the Sangamon County sheriff’s office to fill gaps in police
coverage.
Mayor
Mike Lopez could not be immediately reached for comment.
Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2017.
