Joliet Officer Andrew McCue Appeals Firing

JOLIET, IL —In late March, Joliet police officer Andrew McCue was placed on paid leave from work after his arrest on domestic battery charges. On Thursday, Joliet Patch broke the news that Joliet Police Chief Dawn Malec has recommended McCue for firing.

One of Joliet's city lawyers, Chris Regis, confirmed for Joliet Patch during Thursday's interview that McCue has appealed his termination, not to the city's police and fire board, but instead to an arbitrator.

By appealing to an arbitrator, McCue will not remain on the city of Joliet's payroll during his appeal process, Regis said. Regis was not sure when the arbitrator would hear the case and issue a ruling. He estimated it could take place in 30 to 60 days.

Regis told Patch that it would need to submit a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the details of McCue's termination recommendation from the Joliet Police Department.

Last Friday, Joliet Patch reached out to the police administration, inquiring whether McCue had received notice of a termination.

At that time, Joliet Police Department Spokesman Dwayne English responded in an email stating, "Officer McCue was placed on administrative leave today. I am unable to comment further on an ongoing administrative proceeding."

Back in March, Joliet Patch reported that officers were sent to a home in the 1300 block of Fitzer Drive for a welfare check. While there, authorities arrested the off-duty Joliet officer on a charge of domestic battery.

A Will County warrant for his arrest was signed, and McCue was released on cash bond. Court records show McCue posted 10 percent of a $20,000 bail amount.

McCue is also one of four Joliet police officers who are listed as co-defendants in a federal lawsuit by the family of Eric Lurry, who died while in Joliet police custody on Jan. 29, 2020. The other three officers being sued are Sgt. Doug May, Lt. Jeremy Harrison and Officer Jose Tellez.

Tellez and McCue were the officers assigned to drive from Lurry back to the police station following his arrest that afternoon on the city's east side near Briggs Street.

The federal lawsuit filed last August by Lurry family lawyers states that: "Defendant McCue then reached in Mr. Lurry's mouth to retrieve the narcotics and removed part of a plastic bag. Defendant McCue and May's conduct caused Mr. Lurry to ingest narcotics and suffocate."

In July 2020, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil and Will County State's Attorney's James Glasgow issued statements exonerating the Joliet police officers of criminal wrongdoing in Lurry's death. Glasgow and O'Neil indicated that Lurry died of a drug overdose involving Fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.