30-Day Suspension For Black Detective Who Sued Chief Roechner

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner and his administration continue to retaliate against detective David Jackson by filing multiple frivolous internal affairs complaints, including one recently ordering Jackson to serve a 30-workday unpaid suspension, according to Oak Brook civil rights attorney Stacey Vucko's amended lawsuit complaint.

In November, Joliet Patch reported that Jackson, who is president of the Joliet Black Police Officers Association, filed a federal civil rights discrimination lawsuit against the city of Joliet, Roechner, Joliet Police Lt. Joe Rosado, who runs the internal affairs division, and a host of others.

The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Joseph and Stacey Vucko of the Vucko Law Firm.

Last week, Jackson's lawyers amended their federal lawsuit to include additional examples of retaliation done by Roechner's administration against their client, according to Stacey Vucko.

The original lawsuit stated, "Jackson's is also a race discrimination case and unfortunately it is only the tip of the iceberg. The Joliet Police Department's anti-black culture and history of retaliation dates back over 20 years. Minority members have long sought redress from state and federal courts, complaining of Joliet administrative level police officers' resistance to affirmative action, use of ethnic slurs, abuses of power, discriminatory promotional practices, frivolous internal affairs charges and other acts that have humiliated and embarrassed them and held them back in their careers."

Joliet Patch has reached out to both Roechner and Rosado for comment, emailing both men with the same questions related to Jackson's amended lawsuit filing and the 30-day suspension they just imposed against him.

Last March 9, Crest Hill police responded to a domestic disturbance call at the home of Jackson's girlfriend. The woman's son made the 911 call and Jackson reportedly got in his car and left before squad cars arrived.

Even though Crest Hill police did not want to arrest Jackson based on the merits of the case, Roechner's administration implored Crest Hill to arrest Jackson, his federal lawsuit argues.

As a result, Jackson, now 48, faced two misdemeanor domestic battery charges, but the criminal case was thrown out of court before the jury trial began.

On July 1, a special prosecutor asked that all Jackson's charges be dismissed.

On Nov. 4, Jackson's lawyers filed the federal racial discrimination lawsuit.

Then, a memo dated Jan. 9 indicates that Joliet police's internal affairs unit sustained the domestic battery complaint against Jackson — seven months after the criminal charges were dismissed in court.

Rosado, who was already named as a co-defendant in Jackson's lawsuit, recommended a 30-day unpaid suspension. He indicated that Jackson "slammed your girlfriend to the ground causing injuries to her forehead and lower lip. The complaint further alleges that you intentionally misrepresented facts during an internal affairs investigation review. The complaint has been investigated and ... has been found to be sustained."

On Dec. 30, Joliet Police Sgt. James Rouse, also of internal affairs, issued another complaint against Jackson. Rouse indicated that from June 29 until Aug. 18, "you were absent without leave from the Department and did not report for duty within the police facility."

In late September 2018, Jackson went on leave for a work-related injury at the police department. Jackson and his lawyers contend that he has notes from medical professionals placing him under doctor's care and verifying all his time away from work last summer was legitimate.

"Since the November 4, 2019 filing of this lawsuit, the Joliet P.D. has retaliated against Jackson for opposing its discriminatory conduct ... The Joliet P.D. continues to maintain, without justification, that Jackson's employment status is not in 'good standing,' which adversely impacted his ability to obtain housing," the amended lawsuit states.

Furthermore, Joliet Police "issued frivolous internal affairs charges against Jackson on December 30, 2019 and on January 9, 2020. The January 9, 2020 charge, which reflects that it was issued by defendant Rosado, has a recommended penalty of a 30-workday suspension without pay," the lawsuit informs the federal judge.

Lastly, the amended lawsuit reflects, "The Joliet P.D. maintained an unlawful 'no contact' order against Jackson. The Joliet PD. has continuously claimed that Jackson is 'under investigation.' Jackson has exhausted his administrative remedies and his filing of this actio is timely," according to Vucko Law.

Jackson has been with Joliet's Police Department since 1995. He became a detective in 2000.

According to his lawsuit, "Jackson suffered years of abuse and retaliation at the hands of his superiors and fellow officers, Joliet's chief of police, Al Roechner, and his administration. Jackson's pleas to his police sergeants, commanders, division heads, the police chief, the city of Joliet's Human Resources Director, the City Manager, and members of the City Council to remedy these wrongs have fallen on deaf ears."

RELATED PATCH COVERAGE: Det. Jackson Sues Joliet Chief For Racial Discrimination