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Des Plaines cop fired city says Friday

One of two Des Plaines Police patrol officers facing disciplinary charges has been fired, city Human Resources Director Mike Earl said Friday. Officer John Bueno’s employment was terminated March 2, while officer Andy Contreras remains on administrative leave with pay, Earl said.

Bueno and Contreras are facing misconduct charges that have not been made public as yet.

Per the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the patrol officers’ union, Metropolitan Alliance of Police Chapter 240, the officers had the option of dealing with the charges through grievance arbitration instead of a public hearing.

Bueno has opted to for a neutral third-party arbitrator, while Contreras has elected to go before the Des Plaines Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

Contreras’ disciplinary hearing, originally set for last Monday, has been rescheduled for March 26. It begins at 9 a.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 1420 Miner St. A secondary date has been set for April 3.

Bueno and Contreras were placed on leave months ago as the city investigated information received by the manager’s office last fall regarding the conduct of a patrol officer. Charges were filed with the city’s police commissioners in February.

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