Ex-East Dundee police chief threatens suit over removal

The attorney for former East Dundee Police Chief Terry Mee, relieved of his duties last week, sent a letter to the village board Thursday calling the action an "improper removal" and stating the ex-chief wants to continue leading the town's police force.

Village President Jerry Bartels last Friday removed Mee from his position and named Lt. Michael Blahnik as acting police chief. He did not explain the decision in an e-mail Friday afternoon to trustees, village staff and legal counsel.

The board will hold a special meeting at 7:15 p.m., Friday to discuss the matter and take action to either overturn or uphold the village president's decision.

But Mee's attorney, Phillip Luetkehans, wrote in a letter Thursday that Bartels' actions were void because a majority of the village board did not vote to dismiss Mee, as required by state statute.

" ... unless the Village President and four other Trustees vote to confirm Chief Mee's removal from office, Chief Mee remains the Police Chief of the Village of East Dundee," Luetkehans wrote.

The letter states Mee "strongly desires to continue to work as the Chief of Police for the Village Board and the people of East Dundee and has a similar strong desire to avoid any litigation over his improper removal as Chief of Police in a manner not consistent with Illinois law."

Mee, who took over as police chief in 2006, said the letter is not a threat of litigation.

"It is simply a matter of making sure I have legal assistance here, and looking for whatever action is taken, is taken within the framework of the city ordinance and state statute," he said.