Top Darien Official Defends Police Chief

DARIEN, IL — Darien's city administrator last week defended the police chief in response to criticism by a City Council candidate who says local police brutalized him during a 2019 encounter.

In comments on Patch on Friday, City Administrator Bryon Vana said Ward 5 City Council candidate John Laratta "crossed the line" in his most recent comments about Police Chief Greg Thomas, calling the statements "inaccurate and defamatory."

Since filing his candidacy in December, Ward 5 candidate John Laratta, a disabled Vietnam veteran, has continually railed against the Darien Police Department in the comments section on Patch. He contends he was injured when police arrested him late one night in December 2019, with officers saying they believed he fired gunshots before they arrived. No charges were filed against Laratta, and he maintained he did not fire a gun.

But Laratta's wife contradicted his story, telling police in an interview that her husband fired the shots. In January, Thomas said the police had plenty of probable cause to arrest Laratta, but the state's attorney's office decided against prosecuting.

On Friday, Laratta told Darien residents to remember that Thomas was "found lying and giving false information again and again and again to the City Council," but Laratta provided no examples.

"The City Council disregarded all of this and despite repeated demands for his resignation the Darien City Council has not disciplined him" or any other Darien officer, Laratta said. "The answer of WHO IS RUNNING Darien is now answered. It’s all good, says the police chief, then it must be so."

In a reply, Vana said he typically responds on social media, not in the comments section of Patch. He said the chief's "stellar career" includes being the Aurora police chief.

"His dedication to the police profession, earning awards, attending special training, and receiving recognitions from many groups, speaks to Chief Thomas’s credibility and professionalism during his career," Vana said. "As City Administrator, Chief Thomas reports to me. I say, with the utmost confidence, and Mayor (Joseph) Marchese concurs, that Chief Thomas is doing a tremendous job as your police chief."

Vana said Thomas has not been found lying or giving false information to the City Council, as Laratta asserted.

In response to Vana, Laratta said the "line was crossed" in the December 2019 incident. He said he would not be bullied by council members who turn a blind eye to "disgraceful" Darien police actions.

Laratta could not be reached for comment, particularly to give examples to back up his assertion that the chief repeatedly lies to the council.

Laratta is facing Ward 5 Alderwoman Mary Sullivan in the April 6 election. In a Patch questionnaire last month, Laratta said he had retired to Florida. Property tax records shows he owns a beach condo in the Sunshine state. Despite his questionnaire response, he said he still lives in Darien.