Western Springs 911 Head Wasn't In Trouble: Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Officials have been quiet about the circumstances of the departure of the head of the Western Springs area's 911 dispatch agency. But La Grange Park's village manager broke that silence Monday.

In an email to Patch, Manager Julia Cedillo said former Executive Director Michael O'Connor turned in his resignation letter June 29. That was nine days after the agency's failure to activate sirens during a tornado warning. In the days after the storm, the agency investigated the siren situation and put the blame on a dispatcher. O'Connor left in early August.

The 911 agency, known officially as the Lyons Township Area Communications Center, or LTACC, serves Western Springs, La Grange, La Grange Park and Countryside.

Patch has submitted a public records request for documents related to O'Connor's resignation. On Friday, the agency extended its response deadline by another five days. That extra time was needed because the records request required a legal review, Cedillo said.

"There is no documentation regarding discipline for Mike O’Connor, pending or otherwise," she said.

Cedillo showed an online advertisement for the open executive director's position. It was posted Aug. 10.

Meanwhile, Jim Moldenhauer is serving as the agency's interim executive director.

In December 2018, O'Connor started as LTACC's executive director. Before that, he was the support services division manager for the Libertyville Police Department for nearly two decades, according to his LinkedIn page.

On Aug. 9, Patch published a story based on public records about why the agency did not sound the tornado sirens.