Investigation Confirmed In Clarendon Hills

LA GRANGE, IL – Clarendon Hills on Monday confirmed it is investigating the use of the fire department's "callback" policy.

But the village is not saying whether it will make available the inquiry's findings to the public.

The village has hired Itasca-based attorney Charles Hervas as the special investigator, Village Manager Zach Creer said in an email to Patch.

Hervas has a long history of representing municipalities, according to his website.

Because Hervas is a lawyer, the village could keep his report secret from the public because it involves the secrecy of attorney-client communications.

Asked whether the village would keep the report under wraps, Creer said, "I will not speculate on future actions."

In early November, Creer placed Fire Chief Brian Leahy, the department's only full-time employee, and administrative Lt. Jim Weil on paid administrative leave. Creer did not give the public a reason.

Shortly after, Creer declined to say whether an investigation involving the two officials was underway.

Hours after the officials were put on leave, the village curtailed the use of the practice in which paid-on-call firefighters are called back for incidents.

Last month, Patch reported on a former Clarendon Hills firefighter and paramedic's allegations that some of his ex-colleagues abused the use of the callback policy. He said department members signed in to work unnecessarily and wasted taxpayers' money.

It's not unusual for a government body to keep secret an attorney-drafted report on an investigation.

Last year, Hinsdale used that reason for an investigation into a late firefighter's allegations of harassment in the fire department. The inquiry cost the village more than $100,000.

During a January 2022 meeting, Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley said only he, the village manager and "a few select others" had seen the report. Even the elected trustees had not seen it, he said.