Rosemont Sergeant Charged In Armed Robberies Faces Firing

ROSEMONT, IL — The Rosemont cop charged with armed robberies in Norridge and Park Ridge faces firing next week in connection with an internal investigation into official misconduct that began three months before his arrest, according to charges filed with the Rosemont Public Safety Commission. A public hearing will be held Wednesday into whether Sgt. Edward Karas, a 13-year veteran of the Rosemont Public Safety Department, should be fired over allegations he lied to his fellow officers, used a fake police star and helped a convicted felon and others get into a concert illegally.

Karas, 40, of Rosemont, was arrested in the early morning hours of Sept. 13 at the 7-Eleven at 9501 Higgins Road and later charged with two counts of aggravated armed robbery. Police said he was pulled over along with 48-year-old Wright O’Laughlin of Chicago after a Park Ridge police sergeant noticed him driving a dark colored SUV matching the description of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery at a gas station in Norridge the previous morning. Police said Karas is believed to have driven a getaway car while O’Laughlin entered at least two gas stations and robbed staff at gunpoint.

Rosemont police said at the time he had been placed on administrative leave on June 11 and stripped of all police powers in connection with an internal investigation. The seven-page complaint filed with the village’s Public Safety Commission by an attorney on behalf of Superintendent Donald Stephens ahead of the Oct. 17 hearing lays out more than a dozen violations of department policy by Karas. Several charges relate to an unspecified convicted felon with whom Karas has an “extensive” relationship, according to the complaint.

According to the charges, an off-duty Karas showed up to a concert of several Mexican regional music acts on June 9 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont in full uniform with a party of about a dozen people. The group bypassed all security and ticket takers, so none of them were searched for weapons or other contraband.

“This action was reckless and potentially endangered the participants at the event,” according to the complaint. It said Karas was caught on surveillance video helping the group bypass security. One of the people who was improperly allowed into the venue without tickets was Karas’ acquaintance whose criminal history is well known to local police. It past years, the man, identified in the complaint as “John Doe” for privacy reasons, has “threatened physical violence against one or more members of the department of public safety,” among other things.

As part of an internal investigation of the incident, senior Rosemont officers interviewed Karas three days later. Karas denied sneaking the men into the concert and lied about his relationship with Doe. Karas claimed the two were just “acquaintances” and that he was trying to further his relationship with the man to “take advantage of Doe in connection with a proposed real estate deal,” the complaint alleges. Karas promised his bosses, including at least one of the people Doe had previously threatened, that he would not have any further contact with Doe, it said.

However, Karas told Doe about the disciplinary interview and identified the officers involved shortly after it wrapped up, according to the complaint. That constituted an “irremediable breach of trust,” it said. A few nights after Karas was interviewed by officers, Doe showed up at Stephens’ home late at night, apparently trying to influence the superintendent on Karas’ behalf.

The complaint also describes an incident Sept. 12 where Karas was pulled over in a neighboring town on suspicion of driving under the influence. During the stop, Karas pulled out a fake Rosemont Department of Public Safety detective star with a number that was never issued by the department as well as an expired RDPS identification card. The incident was captured on video, according to the complaint.

Karas also pulled out the phony detective star to officers from Park Ridge and Norridge at the time of his arrest, according to the complaint. Police found various other pieces of department-issued equipment when officers got a warrant to search his car ahead of his arrest. They include: a gas mask, a baton, a taser, two bulletproof vests, a police radio and other items.

The complaint asks the commission to terminate Karas for cause following a hearing into the charges. It provides an extensive list of violations of Rosemont policy:

• Security of items representing the department
• Notification protocols for off-duty conduct with other law enforcement agencies
• Uniform regulations
• Department badges
• Standard of conduct
• Loyalty
• Obedience to laws and regulations
• Soliciting gifts, gratuities, fees, rewards, loans, etc
• Other transactions
• Free admissions and passes
• Assisting criminals
• Security of departmental business
• Information security
• Truthfulness

Following Karas’ arrest, Rosemont’s top cop said he was extremely disappointed in the sergeant. Superintendent Stephens assured the public Karas would have his day in court to be held accountable.

"We do not tolerate this misconduct in this department, nor this profession. This does not reflect on the hardworking, dedicated and honest officers that go out of their way each and every day to provide exceptional service to the community," Stephens said. "We are committed to providing a high level of service that is done with honesty, integrity, and respect.”

Officers with the Rosemont Department of Public Safety are cross-certified, and the department functions as both a fire and police force. The village’s public safety commission handles the firing of officers.

Karas, who earns an annual salary of more than $112,000 from the village, bailed out of Cook County Jail last week after providing a $10,000 cash portion of his bond. He was required to turn over any police gear in his possession, but he was not placed on electronic monitoring, the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate reported.

Earlier: Rosemont Cop Drove Getaway Car In Armed Robberies: Prosecutors »