Trustees question openness about Gurnee Mills mayhem

Two Gurnee trustees question why a recently issued recognition letter for a police officer's good work provided new information about early-morning fights and damage at the village's largest mall in November.

Eight young men and teenagers were charged with crimes ranging from battery to criminal damage to property in the Gurnee Mills incidents Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday.

In the letter praising Sgt. Jon Ward, Police Chief Robert Jones stated officers responded to 15 fight and disturbance calls throughout the mall and parking lot after the Black Friday early opening. Jones said 12 incidents happened from 1 to 2 a.m.

Available Gurnee police resources were "quickly depleted" because of a high emergency call volume, according to the letter. Ward took action after recognizing the potential threats to shoppers, cops and security guards.

Ward decided it was necessary to summon Lake County sheriff's deputies and regional Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Service units to help Gurnee authorities establish and execute a tactical plan, Jones wrote. The problems were reported from 1 to 5:21 a.m.

Trustee Kirk Morris said he never knew about the number of incidents and regional assistance needed at Gurnee Mills until seeing it noted about two months after the fact in the letter of recognition from Jones. Trustees received the document as part of a village board meeting packet last week.

Morris, who's been at odds with Mayor Kristina Kovarik, contends the lack of timely, detailed information about the Gurnee Mills mayhem is another example of her administration not being committed to open government for residents.

"Yes, the residents deserve the transparent truth about the Mills mall and what happens there," Morris said Tuesday. "Since the conditions seem to be deteriorating, Gurnee needs to address and implement a plan to counteract it."

Another Kovarik opponent, Trustee Greg Garner, said he didn't know there was trouble at the mall until encountering a resident when buying morning coffee three days after the incidents. He said the details in Jones' letter were new to him.

Kovarik said Morris and Garner are the only trustees complaining about a lack of information. She said the men could call police if they need details about crimes, but stressed elected officials are executives who shouldn't micromanage village affairs.

"They're just trying to take the opportunity to make the village look bad," Kovarik said of Garner and Morris. "They are not engaged trustees."

Gurnee police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said nothing was omitted when information about the Nov. 27 mall disturbances was released. Police responded to media inquiries Nov. 30.

Authorities said weapons were not used in any of the incidents. A mall kiosk was damaged as part of an altercation between three boys ranging from 16 to 18 years old.