Jim Hock Did Not OK Huge Raises For Marc Reid, Darrell Gavin

JOLIET, IL — New Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli's decision to give demoted Joliet police deputy chiefs Darrell Gavin and Marc Reid identical raises of $17,688 during Capparelli's first day on the job has drawn strong criticism from Capparelli's predecessor Jim Hock.

Hock left Joliet in January to return to his native Michigan where he is serving as an interim assistant city manager in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham. Even though Hock is no longer with Joliet he recently sent Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and the eight members of the Joliet City Council a letter regarding the controversial pay raises for Gavin and Reid.

Hock's letter criticized Capparelli, who started as Joliet's permanent city manager Jan. 11.

On his first day on the job, Capparelli authorized exorbitant pay raises for Reid and Gavin. Two days later, Gavin gave Capparelli's appointment as the new police chief, Dawn Malec, notice of his retirement instead of accepting a demotion back to the rank of sergeant, as she announced.

Gavin negotiated a $17,688 raise to spike his pension and boost his retirement severance from the city, Joliet Patch found.

Gavin had been making a deputy chief's salary of $153,817. Joliet let him retire with a final salary of $171,505, Joliet Patch discovered. In addition to the $171,505 salary, Gavin also got $3,080 in annual longevity pay, $6,138 for special holiday pay and $2,100 as his annual court stipend, bringing his total annual compensation to about $182,825.

"In the March 1, 2021, edition of the Joliet Patch, current city manager Jim Capparelli is quoted that I spoke to retired Deputy Police Chief Darrell Gavin about a raise and his retirement," Hock wrote the mayor and City Council. "No such conversation took place. I am always willing to assist towards the progress and success of the City, but I will defend my integrity. "

A copy of Hock's letter, which was obtained by Joliet Patch, goes on to inform city officials: "I called Mr. Capparelli last Thursday and told him he needed to inform the mayor and Council that I did not have any conversation with Mr. Gavin on this issue. I further said that he should have called me first and he is free to contact me anytime on any Joliet city issue.

"I am more than willing to assist in him in carrying out his duties as city manager."

In his letter, Hock referenced a Joliet Patch article from March 8 that was headlined, "Demoted Deputy Chief Gets $18K Raise And Isn't Working."

That article informed readers that Reid got demoted from deputy chief of criminal investigations to night-time lieutenant in January, but Reid has not worked one day in his new post. Instead, Reid got a doctor's note allowing him to remain on indefinite sick leave from work.

Reid plans to stop drawing down his sick leave banks next week, the day after he turns 50.

April 4 will mark his retirement from Joliet after 26 years of service.

"Today, I read in the Patch that Mr. Capparelli now claims I also promised former Deputy Chief Marc Reid the same pay increase," Hock wrote. "On my last day of work, January 8, 2021, I did meet with DC Reid, and he asked me for some kind of financial consideration similar to what I granted retired Chief Al Roechner. I denied that request.

"The only thing a city manager can leave the job with is his reputation. I plan on continuing to clarify my record as necessary," Hock's letter to Joliet officials informed them. "I remain available if I can be of further assistance to the mayor, City Council and residents of Joliet."

Joliet Patch visited City Hall Thursday afternoon and left a message with Capparelli's office manager seeking comment for this article, but Capparelli did not respond as of Thursday night.

Now that Hock has revealed that he rejected Reid's request for a raise and never discussed a raise with Darrell Gavin, it's less clear why Capparelli gave Reid and Gavin an 11.5 percent salary hike even though both men got a demotion in rank.

The third deputy chief who was being demoted, Joe Rosado, has returned to his previous rank as a lieutenant and accepted a salary decrease of roughly $13,000. Rosado continues to show up for work.

On Feb. 25, Patch reported that Al Roechner negotiated a pay raise of more than $30,000 for himself on his second to last day on the job as Joliet police chief.

Last month, Hock told Patch the pay increase allowed Roechner to reach the city pension Roechner would have got had he remained with Joliet until July, which would have marked Roechner's 30th anniversary at the Joliet Police Department.

Had he remained with Joliet through his 30th anniversary this summer, Roechner would have reached his maximum police pension benefit, which is 75 percent of his final salary. Instead, Roechner agreed to retire with 29 years of service, which will put his pension benefit at 72.5 percent, not the maximum benefit.

Since Feb. 16, Joliet Patch has produced numerous articles about the Joliet police pension spiking controversy:

• Joliet Police Lieutenant Who Isn't Coming To Work Will Retire
• Bettye Gavin Says: 'I Was Pretty Much Accused Of A Crime'
• Demoted Deputy Chief Joe Rosado Accepts Pay Cut
• Demoted Deputy Chief Gets $18,000 Raise And Isn't Working
• Darrell Gavin Gets $18,000 Raise To Retire
• Joliet Police Pension Fiasco: Jerry Hervey Outraged
• Chief Roechner's Pension Spike Surpassed Joliet's Salary Range
• Chief Roechner Got Huge Raise 1 Day Before Retiring