Attorney calls Antioch chief firing a “public flogging”

One day after James Foerster was fired as Antioch's police chief, his attorney said the allegations are untrue and called the special meeting to announce the decision a “public flogging."

Attorney Rudy Magna said Thursday he was stunned when Mayor Lawrence Hanson released details of the village's internal investigation to the public during the Wednesday night meeting where Foerster was removed as chief.

“I understand that, in government, sometimes chiefs run up against the mayors and the mayor wins, but there are different ways of doing it than to publicly flog a good man like happened Wednesday, he said. “It showed me that someone was looking for vindication and not justification.

Magna stressed Foerster, by law, is still a member of the police department and can return to work at the rank of lieutenant, which he held before being named chief in February 2006.

“He was not fired as a police officer, just removed as police chief of Antioch, Magna said.

He said he is working with village officials to return Foerster to work as soon as possible, but added it is unclear when that will happen.

To officially remove Foerster from the department, the Antioch Police and Fire Commission would have to hold a hearing and make a recommendation to terminate or keep him, Magna said.

Foerster was placed on paid administrative leave after state representative candidate Scott Pollak said Foerster left his chair with fists clenched and had to be restrained during a July 27 meeting in the chief's office.

The confrontation started after an Antioch police officer told Pollak's 18-year-old son and two friends they needed a permit to canvas the neighborhood in support of Pollak's campaign.

Pollak, running as a Democrat in the Illinois House 61st District race against longtime Republican incumbent JoAnn Osmond, filed a formal complaint later that day. That led to the late-night meeting between Foerster, Hanson, Pollak, the three teens, and other village and police officials.

Hanson said during Wednesday's special meeting that Foerster angrily confronted Pollak during the meeting and others had to intervene. Hanson also said Foerster had two “double vodka and cranberry drinks before meeting with Pollak at 8 p.m.

Magna said Foerster had the two alcoholic beverages more than three hours before the meeting, and had dinner between the meeting and taking the drinks. He also said there were not two shots of vodka in each drink.

And, Magna said Foerster never had to be restrained during that meeting. Instead, he said, Foerster got up to leave during a heated argument.

“We are terribly disappointed in the decision, in the process, Magna said. “The way this was handled was in the nature of a public flogging. This man did not deserve this treatment.

Hanson said the department will hire an interim-chief quickly, then begin searching for a new chief.

“No one wanted to be put in this position, he said. “I didn't want to be there, but we had to make a tough decision.