Watseka Police Chief Douglas ISP Investigation – Search Warrants Issued For Officer’s Bank Records – “If No One Cooperated This Will All Go Away”
Iroquois Co. (ECWd) -
The Watseka Police Chief Jeremy Douglas is tangled in a web of actions that raise numerous concerns for the rule of law in Watseka. The fact he is still the Police Chief makes us wonder what the Mayor and City Council was thinking.
We obtained the Illinois State Police criminal investigation into the Watseka Police Department regarding missing evidence seized during a raid. Considering police officers take an oath of office to uphold the laws of the state, which means all laws, the findings in the ISP report are very troubling.
We sent the Mayor three simple questions, of which we received zero response.
Have you read the ISP investigation interview documents?
Do you condone members of your police department refusing to cooperate with a criminal investigation regarding missing evidence?
If you do not condone such action, what are you going to do about it?
The same can be said for our questions directed to the Police Chief on the sexual harassment web he is tied up in and possible grant fraud during the flooding years ago in Iroquois County. More on that in another article.
Reading the 94 pages of ISP investigation notes should concern every citizen in Watseka as it appears obstruction took priority over cooperation.
ISP - "I contacted Chief Douglas and advised him I would need an official request for investigation, with the understanding that if it was determined that the aforementioned funds had been stolen, the perpetrator would be arrested and prosecuted. Chief Douglas forwarded the attached letter, requesting the investigation."
Why did Douglas ask for the investigation? Because other agencies wanted their portion of the money that was seized in a raid. The missing funds totaled $4,000.00 and were in the control of Lt. King after the raid. How ironic that the very person asking for the investigation is alleged to have also told everyone to not cooperate with the ISP investigation.
ISP - "An examination of the audit revealed that there was possibly other cash missing. However, due to poor record keeping, it is possible that the money was transferred, but the transfer was not documented. Additionally, there were two entries where the description was "cash" and "USC," but no amount was given."
ISP - "In summary, there was evidence unaccounted for on the log that was physically there and there was evidence accounted for on the log that was not physically there."
moar:
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/09/watseka-police-chief-douglas-isp-investigation-search-warrants-issued-for-officers-bank-records-if-no-one-cooperated-this-will-all-go-away/