"I Did Not Call Or Refer To African-American Citizens As 'Monkeys": Bob O'Dekirk Lawsuit Affidavit

JOLIET, IL — One of the most explosive ongoing civil lawsuits at Will County's Courthouse pertains to the 2023 case of former Joliet City Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson against Al Roechner, Marc Reid and the city of Joliet. On Wednesday, Reid just became the new chief of police in Elwood. Roechner served as Joliet police chief during a period of time during Bob O'Dekirk's tenure as mayor.

This week, more documents have been filed at the courthouse, and some are eye-popping. There is a Feb. 23 affidavit from O'Dekirk that was entered into the court record stating, "I have reviewed the attached Illinois State Police report dated June 10, 2020. I did not call or refer to African-American citizens as 'Monkeys' nor say 'F*** You Monkeys.' The racist words attributed to me by then Joliet Police Chief Roechner are false."

The final page of this week's filing by Dickinson's lawyer, Frank Andreano of Andreano Law in downtown Joliet ends with, "Don 'Duck' Dickinson did nothing wrong, except he trusted the chief of police and deputy chief, both of whom took advantage of him. The Mayor is no peach, but that's not a crime. Hard men with sharp tongues sometimes occupy high office. The men Don trusted led him to believe he had been the victim of a crime and that he 'needed' to come to the station so that the deputy chief could take a statement.

"In reality, these two men knew that no cognizable threat had been made and knew that the FBI had already written down Don's words on paper. How writing them down again would cure, resolve, or make things better remains a mystery — unless one believes that the two men were using a vulnerable man to strike back at the man who posed a real threat — Mayor O'Dekirk. The 'monkey' lie shows how desperate the chief was, as it shows the chief is willing to lie to strike at the Mayor," Andreano concluded. "And there Don sat, making $2 per hour for his trouble, while men with degrees and power used him for their own petty purposes. Respectfully, a jury will see the truth and the plaintiff believes its verdict will not be kind to the defendants."

Included in Andreano's court filing from this week was an Illinois State Police report titled, "Robert O'Dekirk" and purpose was "Interview of City of Joliet Police Alan Roechner."



The document states that on June 9, 2020, the Illinois State Police were made aware of an allegation of official misconduct and reckless conduct crimes against then-City of Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk.

"O'Dekirk is alleged to engage in an altercation with citizens Victor M. Williams and Jamal Smith during an anti-violence protest taking place in the city of Joliet," it said.

According to the ISP report, Sgt. Mollo and Special Agent Nathan Schramka interviewed then-chief Roechner at the Joliet Police Department in a conference room at 11:25 a.m. on June 10, 2020, and Roechner told them he was hired by JPD on July 19, 1991, and appointed the chief of police on Dec. 4, 2018.

During his interview with Illinois State Police, Roechner indicated that at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 31, 2020, a planned protest began outside the police department. Roechner did not know O'Dekirk was planning to attend the protest until he saw him on the roof. The protest ended at 3 p.m. without any problems. Then, other unplanned protests began to occur throughout Joliet; however, the report indicated those crowds were more violent against the Joliet Police Department, and "the agitators hiding amongst the protests began looting stores. Roechner and JPD responded to calls the remainder of the day."

On the night of May 31, 2020, Roechner recalled, he took a phone call at 8:12 p.m. from Mayor O'Dekirk, indicating that O'Dekirk was at the intersection of Jefferson and Larkin and he wanted to know when Roechner was going to arrive.

"O'Dekirk told Roechner he was going to walk around the town and try to defuse the situation through his position as the mayor of Joliet," the Illinois State Police report outlined. "Roechner advised O'Dekirk not to get involved with the protest and drove to O'Dekirk's location. When Roechner arrived at the intersection of Jefferson and Larkin, he observed O'Dekirk wearing black sweatpants, black sweatshirt and a JPD issued baseball cap. At that time, Roechner was informed looting was taking place at the Louis Shopping Mall at 3340 Mall Loop Drive ... Roechner stated he left O'Dekirk and drove to the Mall. Roechner stated that later that night at 10:59 p.m., O'Dekirk called him, via cell phone and informed him that the crowd at Jefferson and Larkin became more violent, as they were throwing rocks at JPD officers. Roechner stated he waited until JPD Swat officers secured the Mall before he returned to the area of Jefferson and Larkin at 11:45 p.m."

At the scene, the report notes that Roechner told ISP that he spoke with Fire Chief Greg Blaskey, who informed him that he heard O'Dekirk was involved in a scuffle on Jefferson Street. Roechner then approached O'Dekirk and told him not to get physically involved with people, as he is not a police officer. Roechner then stated O'Dekirk responded, "I am the mayor, I can (do) whatever I want," the ISP report noted.

According to the report, Roechner explained to the Illinois State Police that after O'Dekirk's incident, they were walking together in the area of 105 Wilcox St. and there were five to eight Black males standing in the yard when he heard O'Dekirk say, "F*** You Monkeys!" Roechner stated if the five to eight African-Americans standing in the yard would have heard him say this, there would have been issues, the report said.

Later that morning, on June 1, 2020, Roechner heard about and reviewed video posted on YouTube showing the incident that involved O'Dekirk and Victor Williams and Jamal Smith. According to the report, Roechner stated he heard that the officers near the Silver Spoon Restaurant parking lot took O'Dekirk's word as to what happened, which is why Williams and Smith were arrested, and that Joliet Police Lt. Kenneth Brown approved the decision to arrest Williams and Smith.

The report said Roechner stated he heard O'Dekirk drove to Jefferson and Larkin in his personal truck; however, during the night, he rode with Joliet officer Chad Evans in a JPD squad car.

As the interview with ISP continued, Roechner said he later heard from other unknown JPD officers that during the night of May 31, 2020, O'Dekirk was ordering officers to detain people. Roechner said he heard O'Dekirk tell an unknown JPD supervisor to detain a person because he had a gun; however, Roechner then heard the same person had previously yelled at O'Dekirk, which is why O'Dekirk alleged he had a gun, according to the report.

After Roechner reviewed the YouTube video, he observed O'Dekirk wearing a JPD-issued baseball cap. Roechner stated that JPD officers are issued basebalcaps;s, however, O'Dekirk as mayor was not issued one. Roechner stated he personally did not give O'Dekirk the JPD baseball cap, nor did the JPD officially give him one. The interview then ended around noon.

This week, Dickinson's lawyer, Frank Andreano of downtown Joliet's Andreano Law, included former Mayor O'Dekirk's affidavit as part of his latest court filing titled, "Plaintiff's Consolidated Response To The Defendants' Motion For Summary Judgment."

The opening of this week's filing from Andreano states, "At the beginning of a closed session of a City of Joliet Council meeting then Mayor Bob O'Dekirk pointed at plaintiff Don 'Duck' Dickinson, then a City Councilman, and said, 'And you Dickinson, the truth will come out about you.' This cryptic and nondescript statement, which was also heard by Councilperson Sherri Reardon lies at the heart of the controversy now at issue. Unfortunately, Mr. Dickinson was in the throes of severe mental distress at the time, which the defendants used along with their badges to seek to vanquish Mayor Robert O'Dekirk, as their police careers depended upon it."

The final pages of Andreano's 30-page filing this week at the courthouse end by declaring, "It was not the plaintiff, but the chief and deputy chief who played with the justice system, hid reports, and engaged in conduct for which Mr. Dickinson paid the price. There was never a reason for a report to be filed. One had already been placed on file with the FBI and the chief knew that no crime had occurred. The chief and deputy chief's actions brought about the entire prosecution, as no report needed to be made and the games which they clearly played with the Illinois State Police are the reasons that Mr. Dickinson paid the price. The Mayor insisted on criminal charges, and said so publicly, stating in the media, 'Don Dickinson committed a crime and I fully expect him to be prosecuted for what he's done, end quote.' It was the city of Joliet, and its police department which played a major role in bringing about this prosecution. The city's top police officials led Don to believe that a cognizable threat had been made by the mayor and at a time when Don was vulnerable. They simply can't wash their hands and walk away. They stuck Don in this mess," Andreano asserted.

Related Joliet Patch coverage of the 2020 saga:

• Ex-Joliet Mayor Files Federal Suit: Roechner, Reid Among 8 Defendants
• Ex-Chief, Ex-Deputy Chief Conspired To Damage Mayor: IL State Police
• Mudron: Dickinson Wanted To Get Ahead Of Private Parts Photo Scandal
• Joliet Police Pension Spiker Becomes Elwood Police Sergeant
• 'Duck' Dickinson's Criminal Case Dismissed, Jobe-Gavin 'Disappointed'
• Ex-Councilman McFarland Files Defamation Suit Vs. Mayor O'Dekirk