Veteran Joliet Police Officer Fired By Roechner

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet police officer who was honored with two Silver Life Saving Awards, in 2012 and again in 2018, is no longer on the Joliet Police Department after Chief Al Roechner decided to fire him late last month, Joliet Patch has learned. Ousted Joliet police officer David Blackmore started with the city in March 2006.

The police administration's internal affairs unit, with Roechner's approval, got rid of him at the end of December, documents obtained by Patch in a Freedom of Information Act request show.

"I have reviewed past discipline in an attempt to find misconduct that was substantially similar to your violations. I do this to ensure the discipline imposed is even-handed, as it is important to treat all employees the same," Roechner wrote. "I have evaluated your length of service and prior work record and balanced that against the seriousness of the offenses."

"I weigh all of these facts against the Department mission which in part states, 'We must maintain the highest levels of integrity and professionalism in all of our actions.' In consideration of all of these factors and after thorough analysis I find that there is no alternative sanction other than your termination of employment with the City of Joliet," the chief advised Blackmore.

Joliet Patch obtained several documents pertaining to Blackmore's ouster at the Joliet Police Department as the result of a Freedom of Information Act request. The police department's Internal Affairs unit held a pre-disciplinary meeting in the chief's conference room Dec. 27.

The following people were in attendance: Deputy Chief Darrell Gavin, Deputy Chief Marc Reid, Deputy Chief Mike Batis and two members of the police administration's Internal Affairs unit, Sgt. James Rouse and Lt. Joe Rosado.

Others present included two members of the city's Corporation Counsel team, Marty Shanahan and Sabrina Spano, Illinois FOP Labor Council attorney Tamara Cummings, Joliet FOP Labor Council President Mike DeVito as well as John Perri and Anton Lakota, two Joliet police officers who are also on the labor council with DeVito.

The letter from Chief Roechner advises Blackmore that, "You were afforded the opportunity to respond to the allegations. After reviewing evidence presented at this hearing, I found the allegations to be sustained."

Roechner's letter informing Blackmore of his ouster states the following:

"There were discrepancies involving statements that you made on your on-duty injury report, information you provided on your Joliet Police Department Offense report, information you provided to your doctor, and the events that occurred on August 21, 2018."

Roechner informed Blackmore how the Joliet Police Department has a general order governing code of conduct and "Conduct unbecoming of Department members shall not be tolerated."

"This shall include any conduct which adversely affects the morale, operations, or efficiency of the department or any conduct which has a tendency to adversely affect, lower, or destroy public respect and confidence in the department, or any department member," the letter reads, also pointing out, "Members shall not knowingly make false statements or intentionally misrepresent facts."

One year earlier, on Sept. 12, 2018, Chief Roechner notified Blackmore that he was being honored with the Joliet Police Department's Silver Lifesaving Award, Blackmore's personnel files show.

According to the chief's memo, Blackmore and fellow officers Smith and Price responded to a welfare check on an elderly person who had not been seen by their neighbors for several days.

"Upon arrival, you made numerous attempts to make contact with anyone in the residence to no avail. Not satisfied that there was not a problem, you eventually forced entry into the residence. You found the 68-year-old (residence) incapacitated under a pile of books and magazines that had fallen on him, making it impossible for him to get up. You then assisted the paramedics in rescuing him and removing him from the situation so that paramedics could transport him to the hospital," Blackmore's award letter from the chief reads.

"Based on his physical condition it is apparent that he would not have survived much longer had you not forced your way into the residence and rescued him. Congratulations on a job well done!"

In 2012, then-Joliet Police Chief Mike Trafton honored Blackmore with a Life Saving Award for Blackmore's actions in preventing a man from jumping into the river and drowning that March.

"You observed a (person) who was on the pedestrian walk in the center of the Jefferson Street Bridge putting his leg over the railing in an attempt to climb over the guardrail. This was also observed by the bridge tender who called 911 I believing the (person) was attempting suicide," the award letter notes.

"You quickly exited your squad car and grabbed hold of the subject, preventing him from jumping into the Des Plaines River, and you were then able to pull him off the railing. Once safely on the ground, he started to convulse. Other officers arrived on the scene and assisted you in restraining the subject until the Joliet Fire Deportment arrived and transported the subject to the hospital."

At the end of Chief Roechner's Dec. 27 termination letter, Blackmore was notified that his contractual rights provide "that you may appeal my final decision through arbitration through the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners."

During the past decade, Blackmore was also a member of the Joliet Police Department's Pipes & Drums Band. He received several unit merit awards for representing the department with professionalism and dedication in that role, documents from his personnel file show.