Police lodge use of 'sheriff' in dispute

Promotion for a poker fundraiser is fueling a dispute between a police social lodge and the Lake County sheriff's office.

Similar to last year, an announcement was made this week that Lake County Sheriff's Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 is sponsoring a fundraiser featuring Texas Hold 'em later this month at Gurnee Holiday Inn Convention Center.

However, the announcement prompted a reaction Wednesday from the sheriff's office. The office stressed the privately funded FOP social group "is in no way, shape or form" connected to the public law enforcement agency.

Undersheriff Raymond J. Rose said Thursday the office does not condone card game fundraisers and never seeks financial donations. He said the FOP lodge is improperly using the sheriff's office name and creating confusion for Lake County residents.

But FOP Lodge 66 contends the sheriff's office position is about politics. In a statement, the lodge said the dispute stems from the organization's decision to not endorse Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran in an election.

FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood said using the word "sheriff" as part of FOP Lodge 66 was not a problem until after Curran resigned from the group.

"The name of the Lake County Sheriff's Police FOP Lodge 66 is the same as when Sheriff Curran was a member of this private, fraternal organization," Southwood said.

In June, the sheriff's office sent a cease-and-desist letter to FOP Lodge 66 regarding use of the agency's name "in any future advertisements, solicitations and on your website." Sections of the Illinois solicitation for charity law were cited in the letter.

FOP Lodge 66 officials said a percentage of the winnings from each Texas Hold 'em table will benefit Lake County Toys for Tots, Special Olympics and Easter Seals.