Citizen board for Joliet Police Dept. stalled again as council members quarrel

The latest proposal for a citizen advisory board to the Joliet Police Department was put on hold again at a contentious City Council committee meeting on Thursday at which a councilwoman walked out, the committee chairman called the situation “mind-boggling,” and activists pushing for the panel voiced frustration.

The matter, under consideration for more than a year, was pushed back after officials said the current police administration had not received a copy of the proposal before the Thursday meeting.

“We need to slow this down,” interim Police Chief Robert Brown said, asking for time for the police administration and police unions to review the proposal before it goes to a committee vote.

Committee members disagreed as to whether the proposal was ready for a vote, leading to a face-off between Chairman Terry Morris and Councilwoman Jan Quillman.

“Do not speak over me,” Quillman said to Morris at one point as they both were talking at the same time.

“You keep saying the same thing,” Morris said.

“That’s it. I’m done,” Quillman said, although she stayed for some time only to walk out later in the meeting.

There was little discussion of details of the proposal, other than Quillman pointing to a provision providing payment for time and travel for the review board she considers troubling. Other appointed city committees and commissions do not receive compensation.

The committee was urged at the start of the meeting to approve the proposed creation of a nine-member board that would have the ability to review police policy and procedures, including disciplinary matters.

“What this would do is make it so the residents and the community could see openly what’s going on and can understand what’s going on,” said Karl Ferrell, who was among activists who had been involved in discussions to form the proposal.

Ferrell later expressed frustration with the committee decision to table the matter, saying he had been involved in five or six meetings to develop the proposal.

“We have altered terms of what we wanted. We have already negotiated,” he said.

Assistant City Attorney Chris Regis described the proposal as “a bit more expansive” than one the committee tabled in April when activists voiced objections.

Former Chief Dawn Malec reportedly was involved in the discussions to create the latest proposal.

But Malec was demoted three weeks ago, making Brown the third police chief since the City Council began discussing the possibility of a review board in August 2020.

Deputy Chief Sherrie Blackburn suggested that the council wait until the next chief is chosen before approving a review board, which received some support from Quillman and Joe Clement, the third council member on the committee.

But Morris, who at one point said the committee wasn’t trying to “send a man to the moon,” balked at the idea of waiting for a new chief.

“I don’t know if we need to wait for a new chief until we get this done,” Morris said. “I don’t know if a new chief will be hired today, tomorrow or next year.”

Quillman walked out of the meeting before the vote to table the matter. Morris and Clement voted 2-0 to meet again in November.

A vote by the committee approving the proposal would send it to the full council for a final vote.