FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2002

Something has been wrong in Stickney for a long time. And it is not at all clear that any public official, either in the town itself or in the Cook County State’s Attorneys office is taking the proper steps to find out exactly what is wrong and to see that wrongdoers are penalized. These are the facts that are known:

1. The former Treasurer of the town resigned her position in early 2001.
2. The town has admitted recently that at least $200,000 has turned up missing.
3. A Stickney police officer, Commander Rich Hare, spoke to personnel at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and testified before the Cook County Grand Jury about alleged corruption within the Stickney Police Department.
4. After Hare provided information to the State’s Attorneys office and testified before the Grand Jury, a woman who lives in Stickney, Kim Koudelka, claimed that Stickney’s Chief of Police put pressure on her to make a sexual harassment claim against Officer Hare. That woman appeared before the Grand Jury and testified concerning the event.
5. In a Complaint field in Federal Court yesterday, Commander Hare makes a claim that retaliatory acts were taken against him because he tried to speak up and uncover corruption in Stickney.

If the facts alleged by Commander Hare and by Ms. Koudelka are true, they demand immediate and strong action by the Village of Stickney. And we call on the Board of Trustees of that town to look into these charges and take whatever action is required. We also call upon the office of Cook County State’s Attorney, Richard Devine to complete its investigation of these matters with all deliberate speed. The citizens and residents of Stickney deserve no less. Too much time has passed already.

Present today are Commander Hare and his attorney, Richard Reimer. I understand that Mr. Reimer has brought copies of the Federal Complaint which was filed yesterday on behalf of Commander Hare.