Oak Lawn Firefighter Under Probe for On-Duty Phone Sex

A Cook County judge rejected an Oak Lawn firefighter’s temporary restraining order to block an interrogation hearing into alleged sexual misconduct while on duty.

Firefighter/Paramedic and former union officer Robert Lanz had filed a petition for an emergency restraining order against the village after he was asked to produce his personal cell phone and credit card records to determine if he had engaged in phone sex calls during working hours.

Lanz, who is currently on suspension for another unrelated disciplinary matter, filed the petition on the basis that the request violated his constitutional rights to privacy, Oak Lawn’s attorney Ben Ghert said.

Village officials said they recently became aware of information that suggested Lanz had violated the village’s policies, including a policy against sexual harassment, by engaging in phone sex on multiple occasions. Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the village launched an investigation.

“This is a very serious public safety matter,” Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deetjen said after the hearing. “The Oak Lawn firefighter under investigation has been placed on administrative leave. In accordance and in full compliance with Illinois law, and with full respect of an expired collective bargaining agreement with our Oak Lawn firefighters, he has been ordered to an interrogation hearing as will as ordered to produce specific documents.”

According to court records, Oak Lawn Fire Chief George Sheetz requested that Lanz turn over his personal cell phone and credit card records dating back to 2012 for a disciplinary hearing scheduled to take place on Dec. 18.

The temporary restraining order was denied by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larsen on Thursday. Lanz’s attorney, Patrick Walsh, argued the firefighter was given less than two weeks to respond and that his union representative would not be available by the deadline, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Further, Walsh argued that Lanz would not have time to arrange legal counsel of his choosing until after the holidays. Judge Larson denied Lanz’s request. A new date for the interrogation is being arranged for early January.

In September, the Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters Union Local 3504 was served with a criminal subpoena alleging that Lanz had misused union funds for personal expenses. A Cook County grand jury decided not to press criminal charges because the union said Lanz had paid back the missing funds.

After Lanz completes his current suspension, said to end this week, he will be placed on paid administrative leave.

Thursday’s court ruling allows the village to press forward as quickly as possible with its investigation to determine if Lanz engaged in misconduct, if any, while on duty, or how frequently that misconduct may have occurred.

Following the interrogation interview, the Oak Lawn fire chief will assess the information and make a determination if any misconduct occurred and decide on the appropriate discipline within the limits imposed by the firefighters’ collective bargaining agreement. Disciplinary actions could include termination, suspension, or written or verbal reprimand.

Oak Lawn village officials said in a court filing that they are “particularly sensitive” to preventing sexual harassment after the village settled for $850,000 after a female firefighter accused a male firefighter of ejaculating on her bed.

“No employee should have to witness or listen to the sex acts of a co-worker while they are on duty,” the village said in a written statement. “Furthermore the public is entitled to know that the firefighters who are paid to be available and ready to respond in a time of crisis are focused on the job at hand and are not preoccupied with inappropriate activities.”