Fired Will County Sheriff's Sniper Who Killed Surrendering Man Not Hired By Lewis University PD

JOLIET, IL —Less than a year after the Will County Sheriff's Office announced the termination of Lt. John Allen, another police department in Will County is disputing an employment announcement posted on a public statewide law enforcement database listing Allen with a new full-time police officer's job at the Lewis University Police Department.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, which operates a public database for certified law enforcement officers, showed Allen becoming a full-time police officer for the Lewis University Police Department on Monday.

The database shows Allen as previously having worked at the Will County Sheriff's Office from June 7, 2009, until July 23, 2025, and as a part-time police officer from May 2017 through November 2019 at the Lockport Township Park District Police Department.

"I would like to confirm with you that John Allen is not employed by the Lewis University Police Department and he has never been employed by LUPD," Kathrynne Skonicki, Executive Director for Public Relations and Communications
Lewis University informed Joliet Patch on Tuesday.

Skonicki confirmed that Allen had applied for a job with the Lewis University Police Department, but "he has never been employed. We did not hire him," she remarked.

In May 2022, 65-year-old Gregory Walker of Crest Hill was surrendering peacefully at the Fifth Third Bank in Romeoville after having a mental health crisis inside the bank. When he tried to surrender, he was fatally shot by mistake by Lt. Allen, the sheriff's sniper, who was on the perimeter of the property.

Allen's actions cost Will County taxpayers $2.75 million in an out-of-court federal lawsuit settlement. Last July, the sheriff's office fired him following an extensive internal affairs investigation handled by outside personnel.

On Tuesday, Will County Undersheriff Dan Jungles told Joliet Patch that he aware that Lewis University had contacted the sheriff's office in reference to Allen's employment files. Jungles said it was his understanding that representatives from Lewis University visited the sheriff's office in person to review Allen's personnel records at some point.

Meanwhile, the Lewis University Police Department just underwent a dramatic change in leadership as Chief Mike Zegadlo retired on Feb. 20 after spending 15 of his 21 years of service at the Lewis University Police Department. Lewis University made Margie (Paddock) Lill the new chief. Lill has been the LUPD’s longest serving police officer, according to its Facebook page. She has been with the department 14 years, previously serving as the department's commander.

Last June, Joliet Patch reported that Chicago attorney Ian Barney finalized his out-of-court federal lawsuit settlement against the Will County Sheriff's Office and Allen for $2.75 million in connection with Walker's death.

Barney's lawsuit was brought forward by Walker's sister, who lives in Florida. In January 2025, Joliet Patch reported that after a long investigation by the office of Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, a grand jury decided not to indict Allen in the May 2022 death of Walker.

After the grand jury decision, Allen's lawyer, Joliet criminal defense lawyer Jeff Tomczak, told Joliet Patch that his client did not intend to fatally shoot Walker as the 65-year-old man notified the huge police presence at the Fifth Third Bank that he was surrendering.

When asked if he would call Lt. Allen's shooting an accidental discharge, Tomczak responded that the better explanation is "unexplained discharge."

"I agree with the grand jury's determination," Tomczak remarked. "Based on my understanding of the evidence in this case, the evidence was not there nor was the probable cause there to prove that he had a criminal mental state."

Last July, in a statement shared with Patch, a Will County Sheriff's Office spokesman remarked, "Following an internal investigation conducted by an independent third party, the Will County Sheriff’s Office has terminated the employment of Lieutenant John Allen in connection with an incident that occurred in Romeoville, Illinois, in May 2022. The termination became effective on July 23, 2025."

On Tuesday, Undersheriff Jungles informed Patch that Allen appealed his termination to an independent arbitrator, who has not made a decision.