Rejected: Sgt. Chris Schott Won't Become Joliet Police Lieutenant

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet police supervisor being recommended for promotion to lieutenant was rejected in a 3-0 vote at last Thursday's meeting of the city's board of police and fire commissioners.

Joliet Police Sgt. Christopher Schott was turned down in his bid to become elevated to the rank of lieutenant after the board learned Schott recently received a 10-day suspension from work for conduct unbecoming of an officer, according to board chairman Todd Wooten.

Wooten voted to reject Schott's promotion to lieutenant as did board members Brad Price and Quinn Adamowski. The board, however, voted 3-0 to promote Sgt. Christopher Delaney to lieutenant. Delaney and Schott were the only two supervisors on the meeting agenda being recommended for a promotion to one of the highest ranks within Joliet police.

Lieutenants only answer to the four deputy chiefs and the chief of police.

Wooten said he could not discuss the disciplinary matters involving Schott at this time.

Wooten said the incident involved another Joliet police officer who lodged a complaint within the department against Schott in early December. The incident occurred while Al Roechner remained the police chief, but "Roechner had over a month to deal with it and he did nothing," Wooten said.

In January, Roechner negotiated a golden parachute for himself with outgoing city manager Jim Hock. Rather than risk being fired by the new incoming city manager Jim Capparelli, Roechner accepted a raise of more than $31,000 to pad his pension and spike his payout for his unused sick, vacation and comp time accruals.

One of Capparelli's first moves as city manager was to promote Lt. Dawn Malec to chief of police. After learning the details of the internal complaint against Sgt. Schott, Chief Malec gave him a 10-day unpaid work for suspension.

Under Roechner, Schott worked as a detective in the criminal investigations unit. In addition to suspending Schott for conduct unbecoming of an officer, Joliet's new chief reassigned Schott to the traffic patrol unit. And, it turns out, Malec was also responsible for recommending Schott for promotion to lieutenant, according to Wooten.

So why did the police and fire board deny Schott's promotion to lieutenant?

"Due to the severity of the charges and the fact it was so recent we felt, he was not fit for a promotion at this time, and it would send a bad message to the department (considering) he just received a 10-day suspension," Wooten told Joliet Patch's editor on Sunday.

On Friday, Joliet Patch visited the police station leaving messages with Malec and Schott seeking comment for this article, but neither called back.

Wooten said he is confident the police and fire board made the proper decision in denying Schott's promotion to lieutenant.

"Oh, absolutely," Wooten said. "Based on the punishment (Chief Malec) gave him on a matter that was reported by another Joliet Police Department officer. Another officer made the complaint."

Schott has been a member of the Joliet Police Department since December 2003. Under Roechner, Schott was promoted to the rank of sergeant in December 2018.