Pressed by trustees and citizens to select a police chief, Oak Brook Village President Kevin Quinlan fended off those pleas Tuesday night with the promise that he would offer “a compromise situation” at the board’s next meeting in two weeks.
Quinlan’s comment came amid bickering over the details leading up to and following his July 1 appointment of John Carpino as acting police chief. Five of the board’s six trustees have grown increasingly disenchanted with Quinlan’s handling of the search, including his refusal to recommend a permanent chief the last three weeks.
When Trustee Susan Chase-Korin urged him to provide details of his proposed compromise, Quinlan said the plan was not final and he declined to elaborate.
Trustees and residents are eager for Quinlan to end the search for a successor to Allen Pisarek, the village’s police chief for more than six years before his departure in May.
Throughout the board’s heated discussion Tuesday, Carpino sat silently between the Village Board and some 70 audience members. He declined to comment afterward.
Quinlan’s surprise appointment of Carpino, formerly the police chief of Willow Springs and before that a 23-year veteran of the Oakbrook Terrace police force, has triggered an ongoing battle between Quinlan and trustees. Trustees say Quinlan has acted illegally, undermined the search for a permanent chief by declaring Carpino a leading candidate and damaged their trust in his leadership.
Quinlan has countered that the appointment is temporary, was done to ensure the safety of residents and that Carpino came highly recommended by other law-enforcement leaders. Police Department personnel also have supported Carpino.
Two weeks ago, Quinlan obtained a temporary restraining order from DuPage County Circuit Judge Bonnie Wheaton preventing trustees, at least for the time being, from undoing Carpino’s appointment and withholding his pay.
In an interview Monday, Quinlan indicated he has no plans to recommend a permanent chief until at least next month because he plans to pursue the court case when it comes up for a Sept. 8 hearing. “It is my absolute intention to have [the judge] rule on this,” Quinlan said.
He reinforced that impression after the board passed a resolution asking Quinlan to make an appointment no later than the board’s Aug. 24 meeting. “Whatever,” Quinlan said with a shrug.
Trustees and Quinlan wrangled over a variety of issues, including the potential release of minutes of previous closed-sessions. Those minutes include discussions related to the police chief search. Trustees said the severance package they approved for Pisarek contained provisions of which they were unaware, which could render the pact invalid.
“I voted on something I didn’t see,” said Trustee Elaine Zannis.
A group of homeowners association presidents last week demanded Quinlan recommend an appointment by Tuesday night, and Quinlan Tuesday said he “took offense” that the demand came when the group knew he was recovering from back surgery. He said he would respond to the group in writing in the next few days.
At the meeting, some residents spoke in favor of Quinlan’s efforts, while others expressed increasing frustration. Among them was Mario Vescovi, president of the Fullersburg Woods Area Homeowners Association, who lamented that Oak Brook has become “the laughingstock of the western suburbs.”
