Officer Brian Nagra Resigns, Won't Be Fired From Joliet PD

JOLIET, IL — At 5 p.m. on Monday, July 8, Joliet's Police and Fire Commission will hold its regular meeting, and the agenda includes setting disciplinary hearings for Joliet Police Officers Brian Nagra and Lionel Allen. Both men were recommended for firing by Chief Al Roechner in January, but the chief opted not to move forward with a case against both officers until now. As it turns out, Joliet Patch has learned, the police chief's case against Nagra will not happen.

Nagra, according to city officials, submitted his notice Friday. His brief letter indicated that he was resigning effective July 5. Joliet Patch previously reported that Brian Nagra would become eligible for collecting a police pension in June, which marked his 20-year anniversary with the city.

Joliet's Inspector General Chris Regis told Patch that Nagra's decision to resign "is the best possible outcome for the city." Regis said the city has had a poor track record in the past in terms of firing police department employees. He pointed out that the last officer fired by the city won more than a year of back pay after getting his termination overturned by the courts.

Moving forward, the city won't be on the hook for additional legal expenses nor the time the city would spend on the case if it went to arbitration.

"It's over and it's done with and that's it," Regis said, referring to the Nagra case.

In June, Mayor Bob O'Dekirk participated in a question-and-answer interview with Joliet Patch to discuss the Nagra case. In one of his answers, Mayor O'Dekirk explained, "Unfortunately, some people have tried to use this as a political ploy against myself and Mr. Shanahan. As I stated before, my only involvement in this manner was when the former Chief of Police asked my office to conduct the investigation. From there, I have had no involvement in the process other than a conversation with the current Chief where my opinion on the process was solicited. "

If you missed it, here is Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk's full Q&A with Joliet Patch discussing the plight of officer Brian Nagra.