Demotions For 3 Joliet Deputy Chiefs: Malec Letter

JOLIET, IL — On his first day at City Hall, new City Manager Jim Capparelli named Lt. Dawn Malec as Joliet's new police chief, replacing Al Roechner, who lasted two years on the job. On Tuesday, Malec issued an order announcing that three of Roechner's deputy chiefs were being demoted to other ranks, according to a memo obtained by Joliet Patch.

The document indicated that Marc Reid, Darrell Gavin and Joe Rosado are being reassigned to other ranks and their demotions would take effect this Friday.

The letter does not announce a change in rank for Mike Batis, who has been deputy police chief of technical services since his promotion from lieutenant in December 2018.

Under Roechner, Joliet's four current deputy chiefs have been Reid, deputy chief of criminal investigations; Gavin, deputy chief of administration; Rosado, deputy chief of operations; and Batis.

Around 6 p.m. Tuesday, Joliet news radio station, WJOL, was the first to report that demotions were in the works for three of Joliet's deputy chiefs.

Earlier in the day, Capparelli told Joliet Patch he is excited about the direction of the Joliet Police Department under Malec's leadership, and he expected more changes will be announced at the Joliet Police Department as part of a leadership shakeup.

"We're turning the corner on a new Joliet," he said. "I'm excited and look forward to not challenges, but opportunities.

"It's my understanding that some new deputy chiefs will be named shortly," Capparelli told Joliet Patch early Tuesday afternoon. "I believe Chief Malec should be afforded that opportunity."

As for Joliet's new chief, Malec was a lieutenant in the patrol division, but she was not part of Roechner's upper administration.

"She's going to be able to rectify some of the internal issues in the police department and establish fantastic community relations," Capparelli told Patch.

Capparelli knows a thing or two about law enforcement.

He is from Chicago, and his father was on the Chicago Police Department. Two of his brothers were also Chicago police officers, he said.

"So I have an affinity for police officers," Capparelli said.

On other city matters, Capparelli said he's excited to start 2021 with two major business redevelopments underway in Joliet.

On Thursday morning, the Chick-fil-A Joliet opens on the site of the demolished Lone Star Steakhouse property on Plainfield Road.

The new city manager told Joliet Patch he is a big fan of their waffle potato fries, saying he became familiar with the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain when he lived in the South.

Chick-fil-A originated in Atlanta.

In addition to the new Chick-fil-A, Capparelli said he is pleased the empty Kmart building will be redeveloped this year. Tony's Fresh Market will open its second grocery store in Joliet. The Kmart has been empty for four years.

About a dozen homeless people are living in front of the entrance this winter.

"We're excited to get the Tony's grocery store on Jefferson Street," Capparelli said. "There's a lot of exciting changes coming to Joliet."

Joliet had more than 30 city employees retire last year and most of the retirements were in the police department.

"While there has been many retirements in many departments, it's always regrettable when you lose that vast institutional knowledge, but I wish them all well and look at it as an opportunity to have fresh ideas," Capparelli said Tuesday.

Before taking the job as city manager, Capparelli was a lawyer in private practice with the Castle Law firm at Jefferson Street and Fairlane Drive. He said he left the firm to take the job with Joliet. He also withdrew his candidacy for Joliet City Council in the April 6 elections.

He had planned to run for one of the three at-large openings on the City Council.

On Friday night, he was given a one-year contract to run Joliet's City Hall. The contract passed on a 6-3 vote. Voting for Capparelli were Bettye Gavin, Larry Hug, Terry Morris, Jan Quillman, Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and Herb Lande.

Voting against Capparelli were Mike Turk, Sherri Reardon and Pat Mudron.

In 2017, Joliet hired David Hales as its last permanent city manager giving Hales a three-year contract and a starting salary of $215,000. The city also spent several thousand dollars for relocation expenses to bring Hales to Joliet from Bloomington.

Less than a year later, the Council agreed to pay Hales five months of severance in order to break the terms of his three-year contract.

Joliet has gone without a permanent city manager until this week.

A year ago, Capparelli was a finalist for the city manager's position, but the Joliet City Council, led by Pat Mudron, chose not to offer the job to any of the three finalists. Instead, Mudron chose to keep Steve Jones around on a new month-to-month contract as interim city manager.

Jones left Joliet in August, and Michigan resident Jim Hock came out of retirement to serve as interim city manager from August until last week.

Jim Capparelli's employment contract with city of Joliet:

Annual Salary: $192,000

Length of contract: One year, "however, the Mayor and City Council shall have the option to extend Mr. Capparelli's term for an additional 12 months in accordance with the performance review provisions set forth."

Other details: "Mr. Capparelli shall be deemed to be an at-will, full-time employee of the city of Joliet. As such, the Mayor and City Council specifically reserve the right to terminate Mr. Capparelli's appointment and employment as city manager at any time without notice."

Vehicle allowance: "The vehicle allowance shall include motor fuel from city-operated pumping stations at no charge, for Mr. Capparelli's personal vehicle that he regularly uses in the discharge of his official duties."

Severance: If Capparelli is fired during months six through twelve of this contract, he is entitled to his annual base salary for all the remaining months of his one-year contract. Joliet won't have to pay any severance if Capparelli chooses to resign on his own, however.

No sick-leave payouts: "Mr. Capparelli shall not be entitled to compensation for accrued but unused sick leave at the time of his separation from service with the city."