Round Lake police chief resigns, says he had no other choice

With his top political supporter ousted in the April election, it didn't take long for Round Lake Police Chief Cliffton Metaxa to follow out the door.

Metaxa has resigned after four years as Round Lake's police chief. Former Mayor Bill Gentes broke a 3-3 village board vote that gave Metaxa the post in July 2005.

"I am left with no other alternative but to resign effective July 4, 2009," Metaxa wrote in an e-mail to local officials.

Metaxa declined to elaborate on the e-mail or discuss his resignation Monday. He replaced Charlie Foy as Round Lake's police chief and, within a year, wound up filing an eight-count internal complaint against his predecessor.

Gentes said he was aware of Metaxa's departure. He said Metaxa professionalized the Round Lake Police Department and held employees accountable for their actions, unlike the previous regime.

"Cliff did an exceptional job fixing a badly broken police department," Gentes said.

James Dietz ended Gentes' eight-year run as mayor in the April election. He said Round Lake village board members will compile a list of qualifications they want in a new police chief as part of a nationwide search to fill the job.

Dietz complimented Metaxa for bringing high-quality police service to village residents. He said Metaxa's resignation may have been spurred by recent discussions by various village officials about possible changes at the police department.

"He did a good job while he was here," Dietz said of Metaxa.

In March 2006, Metaxa's eight-count complaint against Foy included accusations of lewd behavior and comments by the former chief toward female officers and civilian employees.

Foy, who reverted to the rank of lieutenant, agreed to acknowledge he spoke to fellow officers about the investigation into his conduct while chief as part of the settlement reached in January 2007. In exchange for his resignation, Foy remained eligible for his pension and received about a year of back pay.

On the evening he was named police chief in 2005, Metaxa was greeted by nearly two hours of public comment mostly supportive of Foy. An unidentified woman booed Metaxa when he stepped forward to be sworn in as chief.

Deputy Police Chief Francis Foy was up for approval at a Round Lake village board meeting Monday night to replace Metaxa on a temporary basis. Francis Foy is not related to Charlie Foy.