Dwayne Killian Pursues Lawsuit V. Joliet, Tri-County Auto

JOLIET, IL — Dwayne Killian, who is a retired Joliet Police Department sergeant and the father of three sons who are current Joliet police officers, has retained a Plainfield lawyer to pursue legal action against the city of Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit in connection with Killian's arrest on June 14, 2022.

Killian's legal action at the Will County Courthouse is considered a precursor to filing a civil lawsuit.

"I wish to pursue a Civil Rights Action for my unlawful arrest on June 14, 2022, against any officers that arrested me and against any officers that made any false police reports that I have concealed theft," Killian's court filing states. "The city of Joliet and or Tri-County Auto Theft Unit are in possession of reports ... concerning my arrest on June 14, 2022."

On Wednesday, City Manager Jim Capparelli told Joliet Patch he had no comment on Killian's court filings or his arrest. Patch also reached out to the Joliet Police spokesman, Sgt. Dwayne English, who responded in an email: "I am unable to provide a report as this case is being investigated by the Tri County Auto Theft Task Force. I am unable to comment on pending litigation."

This month, Killian and his attorney, John Schrock, filed their petition for discovery against Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit, which has an office on the city's near west side.

Last June 14, "I was arrested by unknown police officers of the city of Joliet and that Joliet Police Sgt. Ed Grizzle advised me that I was arrested for 'concealing theft,'" Killian stated. "That as a result of my arrest, I was removed from my position with the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit.

"I did not commit any act of theft or concealing theft on June 14, 2022, or at any time before or after."

Eight months have passed since Killian's arrest last summer, and "I have not been charged with theft, concealing theft or any other crime in connection with the June 14, 2022, arrest," Killian wrote Will County's judges.

Killian is correct, Joliet Patch found.

There are no criminal charges pending against him in either Will or Kendall Counties. Killian lives in rural Kendall County.

"The City of Joliet and or Tri-County Auto Theft Unit are in possession of reports ... concerning my arrest on June 14, 2022," Killian declared in court documents.

For that reason, Killian wants a Will County judge to make Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit produce all police or other reports related to his arrest "or relates to or concerns to the allegation that Dwayne Killian concealed any theft in his position with the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit."

During Capparelli's first year as city manager, Killian gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Joliet City Council in July 2021. Killian explained the history, funding source and crime data for the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit.

Killian said he joined Joliet's Police Department in 1986, and he started with Tri-County in 2008 as deputy director. He was appointed director in 2016.

In 2017, after 30 years of service, Killian retired as a Joliet police sergeant. In 2019, his title with Tri-County became director of administration, he told Joliet's elected officials.

Between June 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, Tri-County received $842,500 in grant funds. The unit received 336 auto theft reports, made 67 arrests and recovered 219 vehicles that were worth almost $3.65 million in value.

During June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, Tri-County received 383 reports, made 111 arrests, recovered 282 vehicles, worth more than $5.6 million in value. That fiscal year, Tri-County received nearly $1.2 million in grand funds.

When Killian addressed the Council, he explained that "five individual officers" did all the case work. Tri-County Auto Theft Unit is a multi-jurisdictional police agency, based in Joliet, but its team of officers also handle vehicle thefts in surrounding counties and communities.

According to Killian's presentation, Tri-County's participating agencies include: Joliet Police Department, Will County State's Attorney's Office, Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office, Kankakee City Police Department, Will County Sheriff's Department, Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, Grundy County Sheriff's Office, Manteno Police Department and Romeoville Police Department.

Patch UPDATE: Dwayne Killian 'Permanently Removed' From Tri-County Auto Theft Unit