No More Joliet Police Chiefs From Inside The Ranks: Capparelli

JOLIET, IL — Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli does not want to make the same mistake he did in January — promoting someone from within the ranks of the Joliet Police Department to become his next permanent chief of police.

During the past 22 years, the city's last six police chiefs all rose through the ranks within the Joliet Police Department: Dave Gerdes, Fred Hayes, Mike Trafton, Brian Benton, Al Roechner and Dawn Malec. Now, that streak will be coming to an end, Capparelli assured Joliet Patch on Wednesday, several hours after he fired Malec after less than nine months on the job.

Malec worked at the Joliet Police Department since 1994, and she was notified Wednesday she is no longer a city of Joliet employee. She was fired for insubordination, Joliet Patch learned.

"I lost faith and confidence in the police chief, and I wish her the best in her endeavors," Capparelli remarked at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

Joliet Patch left Malec a voicemail seeking reaction to her firing, but she did not call back

Capparelli said that Robert Brown is now serving as interim chief, but Brown will not become the city's permanent chief.

"Brown is a temporary chief," Capparelli stressed.

Twice this year, Joliet has had upheaval in the top ranks of its police station. Roechner agreed to resign in exchange for receiving a $31,000 pay increase to pad his police pension. He resigned just days before Capparelli started as the new city manager. Last month, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that his team of lawyers who specialize in civil rights litigation have opened an extensive investigation into the Joliet Police Department.

Capparelli said that Joliet will now undertake a national search to find its next permanent chief of police. He hopes to name the new chief in the coming months.

"We need fresh eyes," Capparelli said. "Hopefully, we'll get someone who is at least familiar with Joliet."

Capparelli said he would consider candidates who have served as deputy chiefs of police at larger departments. "You just have to have a position of leadership," Capparelli said. "We'll advertise the position, and we'll see what we get."

Back in the 1990s, Joliet hired back to back outside chiefs. Both men had previously worked at the Chicago Police Department.

In 1989, 47-year-old Chicago police captain Dennis Nowicki was hired as Joliet's new chief of police. Nowicki stayed with Joliet for three years. He was then replaced by fellow Chicago police official Joseph Beasley.

In 1999, Dave Gerdes, a member of the Joliet Police Department since 1972, was promoted within the ranks to become Joliet's chief, and it's been that way ever since.

Related Joliet Patch coverage: Dawn Malec Fired As Joliet Police Chief, Replaced By Robert Brown