McCullom Lake names interim police chief
By CRYSTAL LINDELL - clindell@nwherald.com
McCULLOM LAKE – An officer once embroiled in civil lawsuits while serving at the Marengo Police Department was named interim police chief in McCullom Lake on Tuesday night.
Village officials remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind a decision made this month to suspend Police Chief Anthony Loporchio, who’s on indefinite paid administrative leave.
However, in the meantime, the board voted, 5-1, to name part-time officer Kelly Given as interim chief. The decision came after the board discussed the matter behind closed doors.
“I look forward to working with the residents and officers in this new capacity,” Given said.
Trustee Michael Walter, who also serves as chairman of the Police Commission, was the sole no vote. He declined to comment on his vote after the meeting.
Given’s history includes four federal lawsuits, one of which still is pending, related to her time as a Marengo police officer.
All of them alleged that she or her then-partner, Scott Crawford, had used excessive force in separate incidents as Marengo police officers. Both sides agreed to remove Given from two lawsuits soon after they were filed in 2008.
Another lawsuit was settled in August. In it, Given was accused of restraining a 16-year-old girl suspected of underaged drinking while a police dog bit the girl in September 2004. She also was accused of tackling and sitting on the girl in the same incident.
The remaining lawsuit involves brothers Brian and Kevin Gaughan, who allegedly had resisted arrest during a Marengo festival in October 2004 and fought officers. That police-brutality lawsuit is pending and has a discovery hearing Nov. 4.
The Gaughans were criminally accused of concocting the police-brutality allegations, which they denied. McHenry County prosecutors dropped multiple felony charges in May 2007 in exchange for the brothers pleading guilty to misdemeanor attempted disorderly conduct.
Both Given and Village President Terry Counley declined to comment on any of the lawsuits.
Given will get a pay raise as part of the indefinite position but will remain parttime. Her new hourly wage will be $20 an hour, compared with the $15 an hour she made before. Her hours will vary week to week, Counley said.
He added that he was not sure whether the village would hire another police officer to fill Given’s spot.
Loporchio’s suspension came up at a separate time during the Village Board meeting – the audience comment portion. However, after only one resident, Linda Gainer, asked about the situation, Counley cut the topic short, citing personnel privacy issues.
Gainer told the board that she’d like Loporchio reinstated.
“I don’t know what the circumstances are, but I would like you to rethink this,” she said.
Loporchio has declined to comment in the past on the matter and has filed a written request for a hearing before the police commission.
That hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at McCullom Lake Village Hall, 4811 W. Orchard Drive, McCullom Lake.
Loporchio briefly stopped by Village Hall on Tuesday night and appeared to pick up some things from the police area. However, he left only a few minutes before the meeting started.
His annual salary is $55,577.60 and he’s held various positions with the department since starting May 10, 1983.
• Northwest Herald reporter Jillian Duchnowski contributed to this report.
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