Grayslake chief placed on administrative leave with pay Wis. DUI arrest

Grayslake Police Chief Matt McCutcheon has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest in Wisconsin last weekend on drunken driving-related charges.

Mayor Rhett Taylor announced McCutcheon’s suspension Friday in a news release, reiterating that if the allegations against McCutcheon are correct, it would constitute “unacceptable conduct” for a police chief.

Taylor said the administrative leave will allow McCutcheon to focus on the pending legal proceedings involved in the DUI accident outside Silver Lake, Wis., and ensure it does not become a distraction to the day-to-day operations of the Grayslake Police Department.

The village has not yet named an acting chief to take over, and that field supervisors will take over the day-to-day operations of the force, he added.

“The village will be meeting immediately with possible candidates who are available,” the news release reads. “This action will provide the village and its police force with a Chief who will be able to focus full-time on providing for the safety and security of Grayslake and Hainesville.”

McCutcheon, 46, of Fox Lake, was arrested about 9:45 p.m. March 30 after he crashed his Honda into a vehicle while making a turn near Silver Lake, Wis., Kenosha County authorities said.

No one was injured in the accident, authorities said, including McCutcheon’s wife, who was in the vehicle with him.

McCutcheon is free on bond from Kenosha after being charged for being armed while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

McCutcheon has been unavailable for comment since the arrest.

In the arrest report, a Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy wrote that McCutcheon smelled of alcohol and was swaying back and forth while being interviewed by police.

After initially saying he had a few beers at dinner with his wife, McCutcheon told officers he had three vodka martinis at the Three Oaks Restaurant in Wilmot, Wis., according to the report.

Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released McCutcheon’s blood alcohol content following the arrest.

His arrest in Kenosha comes about two months after being named Grayslake’s police chief. The department also serves neighboring Hainesville.

McCutcheon joined the department as a patrol officer in 1991, worked his way to operations commander and was appointed as interim chief after Larry Herzog retired in July 2011.

Attempts to reach Taylor or other Grayslake trustees Friday morning were unsuccessful.

Taylor also added in Friday’s statement that McCutcheon has been an exemplary and dedicated employee of the village for the past 20 years.

“The reports of the events of March 30, 2012, are inconsistent with his service to and history with the village, its community organizations and civic groups,” Taylor said in the statement.

Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto was not available for comment Friday.