State officials examine Harvey police station
January 26, 2007
HARVEY, Ill. – State and Cook County officials have raided the police department of south suburban Harvey, armed with a subpoena to seize certain records.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit, Cook County sheriff’s police and Cook County state’s attorney’s office participated in Wednesday’s raid, authorities said. Officials did not specify what they confiscated.
In a written statement, Mayor Eric Kellogg acknowledged that investigators had been to the police station, and he vowed they would receive “full cooperation.”
“As I’ve always stated, if there is any findings of misconduct of any of our officers or employees, I will push for the immediate termination of the individual or individuals involved,” Kellogg wrote.
The raid came months after a Harvey police detective was charged with official misconduct for allegedly smuggling a gun involved in a murder investigation out of the police department. Former Detective Hollis Dorrough pleaded not guilty on Oct. 10. He has since been fired.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
After the allegations against Dorrough surfaced, the Harvey City Council passed a resolution seeking an investigation of the police department.
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who also called for an investigation, applauded the raid.
“It’s a sad day when police departments have to police other police departments, but in this case, I embrace and welcome it,” said Jackson in a statement. “The law-abiding citizens and officers who honor the badge need to be protected, while the officers who fail to honor it need to be exposed and prosecuted.”