Lt. Jeremy Harrison Hopes To Win Termination Hearing Before Joliet Police & Fire Board Next Week: Ettinger

JOLIET, IL — Jeremy Harrison, a high-ranking lieutenant at the Joliet Police Department who has not been allowed to work since last July, will finally return to downtown Joliet next week. His lawyer Michael Ettinger is optimistic about his client's chances of prevailing at Harrison's termination hearing before the city of Joliet's police and fire board.

Ettinger informed Joliet Patch's editor on Friday that Harrison's termination hearing will take place on Wednesday, perhaps starting around noon.

In years past, some termination hearings were conducted behind closed doors, and some were not. Ettinger said he and Harrison support having the termination hearing take place in the public arena.

"It should be a public hearing," Ettinger told Joliet Patch. "They (the city) may not want to, but there is no reason for it to be in secret."

Ettinger said it's his understanding the city of Joliet intends to present two primary witnesses to testify before the police and fire board suggesting that Harrison be fired: soon-to-be-retiring Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans and attorney Stephen DiNolfo, whose Lisle-based law firm was appointed by the Joliet City Council as the city's inspector general, following the election of Terry D'Arcy as mayor in 2023.

Joliet Patch previously reported that Harrison was put on paid leave from the Joliet Police Department in late July. Then, in late December, the police chief announced his decision to fire Harrison from the agency.

Harrison and his lawyer appealed the termination, and a final decision must be made by the city's police and fire board, a five-member panel made up of appointments recommended by Mayor D'Arcy. The five members who will decide Harrison's employment future are: Natalie Coleman, Tom Ponce, Pat Strocchia, Quinn Adamowski and John Stefanski.

Harrison's termination came as a result of allegations he misused the Joliet Police Department's license plate reader system for personal reasons.

According to the Joliet Police chief's termination notice, last July, "Lieutenant Harrison accessed the Joliet Police Department's Automatic License Plate Reader Database, known as 'Flock,' for a purpose not associated with law enforcement activities, but for personal purposes to track the location of a female officer.

"Specifically, Lieutenant Harrison accessed the Flock system on approximately eight occasions on or around July 2025 to search the personal license plate of Joliet Police Officer ... and he conducted approximately 153 searches for (the female officer's) license plate. At the time of Lieutenant Harrison's Flock searches, the Joliet Police Department was not conducting any active police investigations into (the officer) and her vehicle was not associated with any active investigations."

Separately, the chief of police recommended Harrison's termination for additional violations of Joliet police's general conduct guidelines.

"On or about July 2025, Lieutenant Harrison entered false information into the Flock system to conduct the searches of (the officer's) ... license plate. Specifically, on various occurrences on or around July 2025, Lieutenant Harrison selected the reasons for the search in the Flock system as 'wanted,' 'stolen' and/or 'reckless,' or words to similar effect, when those selections were not the truthful and/or accurate reason for his searches of (the officer's) license plate. At the time of Lieutenant Harrison's Flock searches, the Joliet Police Department was not conducting any active police investigations into (the officer) ... and her vehicle was not associated with any active investigations."

"Based on the foregoing charges and specifications, the Chief of Police has terminated Lieutenant Harrison's employment with the Joliet Police Department," the Dec. 22 internal affairs memo furnished to Harrison reads. He Ettinger, Harrison's lawyer, informed Joliet Patch that "I don't think he violated any rules."

Patch asked Ettinger for how he hopes next Wednesday's hearing will go. Ettinger said that if Harrison prevails, it's his expectation that Harrison will be immediately restored to his supervisory position as a long-time lieutenant.

"That he's found not guilty. He's been on the Joliet Police Department for 26 years. If necessary, he will absolutely testify," Ettinger remarked.

In regard to the Flock camera license plate system, Ettinger had this to say of Harrison: "Did he improperly use the Flock camera system and the answer is 'No.' He did it for proper purposes and that will be our defense."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

• JPD Lt. Harrison's 2018 Crash: No Discipline, No Reports
• Eric Lurry Decision: Judge Rules On Federal Lawsuit Against 4 Joliet Police Officials
• Lt. Jeremy Harrison's Off-Duty Crash 'All Covered Up:' Source