Ernest Crim Reacts To Joliet Police Leadership Shakeup

JOLIET, IL — On Friday morning, city officials gathered inside Bicentennial Park to swear-in the new administration for the Joliet Police Department: interim police chief Dawn Malec, deputy chief of administration Sherrie Blackburn, deputy chief of operations Robert Brown and deputy chief of criminal investigations Carlos Matlock.

Only one of departing police chief Al Roechner's four deputy chiefs is being kept in his post, deputy chief of technical services Mike Batis.

Last Friday, Jan. 8, marked Roechner's last day on the job.

Joliet's new police administration includes the city's first-ever woman chief of police. The new administration is made up of two women, two African-American men and one white man. In the previous administration, Malec, Brown and Blackburn served as lieutenants while Matlock, a longtime detective, was promoted to sergeant one year ago.

This week, Joliet Patch reached out to Ernest Crim III, published author, high school educator and leader of the Joliet chapter of Gatekeepers for his reaction to the shakeup at the Joliet Police Department.

Last year, Crim was a leading voice in Joliet's Black community on the issue of social justice and police reform. Last summer, Crim participated in several Black Lives Matter demonstrations around Joliet, including ones at the city's busy Six Corners intersection at Raynor Avenue.

Here's what Crim has to say about the changes at the Joliet Police Department to start 2021:

"Representation does not guarantee results. Although I'm elated that we finally have new leadership at the helm, especially from a group that has been historically marginalized, I’m far from content because history shows that representation is often used as a veil, and last result to appease disgruntled masses during times of strife.

"Often, representation and diversity initiatives, without a focus on implementing a restructuring of the current cultural dysfunctions, provide temporary satisfaction while those in power seek to continue the same nefarious systemic cycle and routine that has burdened historically marginalized groups.

"The previous chief leaves the interim chief and deputy chiefs a department in disarray. Over the last decade or so, at least 13 lawsuits have been filed against our department. Many of these suits, some by fellow officers, allege and prove our department has condoned racism and sexism. This has cost us tens of millions of dollars as taxpayers, regardless of our race or gender, while our most vulnerable residents continue to suffer and starve during this global pandemic.

"Congratulations to everyone who has received a promotion, whether it be temporary or permanent. I wish you the best of luck. I hope that you don’t succumb to the peer pressure of maintaining the status quo. I hope that you remember that you swore to protect and serve the people of Joliet, not the badge and not property. I hope you’ve learned from the previous leadership, which vehemently failed us all, time and time again. Otherwise, we’ll be back here again very soon."