Dixmoor Moves Forward After Police Department Hiccups
The Village of Dixmoor’s Mayor recently fired former Police Chief Robert Fox after he called the Cook County Sherriff Tom Dart’s office for assistance in response to a supposed lack of police personnel on the night of Sunday, August 4, 2013.
Recent reports stated that due to poor working conditions, two officers walked off their midnight patrol post in protest which left Fox with no alternative but to call for help. Fox told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that officers who remained on the job were unwilling to work beyond their scheduled shifts.
“We were contacted by [the village of Dixmoor] early on the morning of Sunday, August 4 and were notified that the police chief had no officers on patrol,” Cook County Sheriff’s Chief of Policy Cara Smith told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper.
According to Smith, Cook County Sheriffs were dispatched to patrol Dixmoor that night and the Sheriff’s office spoke to the Mayor of Dixmoor Dorothy Armstrong on Monday, August 5 stating that their officers would be available as long as they were needed.
The sheriffs continued to patrol midnight shifts until Wednesday, August 7 when Armstrong called the Cook County Sheriff’s office stating that the village no longer needed their assistance.
“We were surprised to get a call from the mayor asking for no more assistance,” said Smith.
Smith added that Cook County Sheriffs have worked with several of Chicago’s south suburban communities including Robbins, Harvey and Dixmoor for years; sharing evidence technology and anti-gang information.
However, according to the Dixmoor Police Department (DPD), they were fully staffed with police officers for patrol before Sunday, August 4, 2013 and are currently fully staffed with sufficient working conditions. DPD has not suspended or fired any police officers for not being available for their shift on Sunday, August 4, 2013.
In addition, the timing of Fox’s firing may not have been not solely related to the Cook County Sheriff incident. Mayor Armstrong told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper, “We had a breakdown in a working relationship.”
Fox responded by saying, “I did my job as a law enforcement professional; it’s my job to make sure the citizens are safe. I love law enforcement, I know no other way than to do it the right way. I did everything I possibly could do. I don’t know what else I could’ve done.”
Fox also stated that he briefed Mayor Armstrong as the situation was unfolding including when he called the Cook County Sheriff’s office for assistance. He also said that on that following Monday afternoon at 2 p.m., he met with Cook County Sheriff First Deputy Chief Mike Smith and several other officers of the Cook County Sheriff’s department at Dixmoor’s village hall to discuss logistics and that the meeting lasted at least two hours.
On Thursday, August 8 Fox met with Mayor Armstrong and was relieved of his position.
Armstrong, who recently celebrated her first 100 days in office, defeated former mayor Keevan A. Grimmett, in Illinois’ special election on April 9.
Dixmoor is currently searching for a new police chief and currently have promoted deputy chief Kedar Jones as the interim police chief.
Jones, a Vietnam veteran who received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana University in 1977, began his career in law enforcement career in 1974.
“I’ll do my best as long as I’m needed,” Jones said.
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