Bolingbrook Police Sergeant Facing Termination for Associating with Felon Son

BOLINGBROOK, IL — A Bolingbrook Police Department sergeant is currently the subject of a termination hearing for associating with a convicted felon, the felon being his son.

According to hearing testimony from Bolingbrook Public Safety Director Tom Ross, Sgt. Willie McRay’s son, Jeremy McRay, is a convicted felon and over the age of 18. In September 2015, Jeremy was arrested on a felony burglary charge in Bolingbrook, according to court records, and at that time Ross learned that Jeremy had a previous felony conviction. The Bolingbrook Police Department has a general order that officers are not allowed to associate with felons.

According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Ross is requesting the Bolingbrook Fire and Police Commission to terminate and discharge Sgt. McRay from his position for disobeying general and direct orders, for insubordination, and for failure to uphold the standards expected and delineated for service as a sergeant and police officer for the village. Ross allegedly told McRay repeatedly that he was not allowed to associate with his son, nor could his son live with him.

In August 2016, McRay allegedly gave his son access to his home while he took a vacation in Arizona, according to hearing testimony from Ross. During that time, Jeremy allegedly threw a party where a woman was sexually assaulted in the basement and items from the home were stolen, according to the hearing. Ross was unable to later elaborate on the sexual assault due to the ongoing investigation.

At the hearing, Ross said that McRay has been unwilling to help in the investigation of the burglary and the sexual assault.

“He wouldn’t file a report or cooperate with the investigation,” Ross said.

McRay did not testify during the hearing and messages left with his lawyer Laura L. Scarry were not returned. A phone number listed online for McRay was disconnected.

However, Scarry questioned Ross during the hearing over holding McRay responsible for the incident.

“If he doesn’t give Jeremy access to the house, this doesn’t happen,” Ross said.

Also during the party, McRay’s patrolman hat shield and badge that he retained after being promoted to sergeant were stolen, as well as other items. McRay was not using the badge and hat shield on duty.

At another point, McRay was found with a controlled substance in his desk drawer that was prescribed to Jeremy, according to Ross, who testified that McRay said he was keeping it away from his son. Ross said that he did not believe McRay was abusing the medication, but that he should not have had the medication and that his possession of it is a violation of department policy.

According to questioning from Ross' lawyer, Bryan Kopman, Ross said McRay told him he didn't think the general order not to associate with his felon son applied. Ross told McRay that it did.

"Although I feel bad for him, and he needs a place to stay, Sgt. McRay is my police sergeant, I can't have him associating with Jeremy McRay," Ross said.

In a later interview, Ross said that police officers with underage children convicted of felonies are taken on a case-by-case basis.

"If a police officer has a 12-year-old son who is convicted of felony shoplifting or is under indictment and is a minor that has to live with his parents, we don't say the police officer can't live with the minor child. We have to make some kind of arrangements. It's never come up in our agency's history," Ross said.

McRay has had no significant disciplinary history and has been on the force for 14 years, according to Ross, and said he has performed in a satisfactory manner. McRay has been suspended without pay.

The next hearing for McRay is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13.