Kildeer lays off 3 more police officers because of 'severe economic conditions'

Three Kildeer police officers will be laid off in April, bringing to 11 the total number who have been cut since October, village officials said.

Among the officers in the latest round is Michael Hoover, who received a hero's welcome at village hall when he returned home in October 2009 after serving a year in Afghanistan for the Army National Guard. Village officials said the celebration was the first of its kind in Kildeer and included 1,000 cookies donated by a resident.

Village Administrator Michael Talbett said the layoffs were determined by seniority.

“This is all driven by the union contract,” Talbett said Monday. “We don't have a choice who these individuals will be.”

Kildeer Police Chief Louis Rossi announced the three layoffs in a memorandum that states the village is experiencing “severe economic conditions,” including a shortfall of more than $459,000 in the 2012-13 budget.

Of that shortfall, $448,000 is due to the village's obligation to contribute to police pensions for the year, Talbett said.

Talbett said the contribution to the pension fund is based on the number of officers the department had last year, which was 18 as of March 2011. With the three newest layoffs, Kildeer will employ seven full-time officers, officials said.

Eight Kildeer police officers were laid off in November when neighboring Deer Park terminated its police protection contract with Kildeer. The villages were in the fourth year of a contract running until April 30, 2013 that would have paid Kildeer $1.45 million in 2011. Deer Park contracted with Lake County sheriff's deputies to patrol the village, starting Nov. 15.

That change also effects Kildeer pension contributions, as now it is the only village responsible for paying into the pension funds, Talbett said.

“This is something we hadn't had to shoulder by ourselves in the past,” he said.

The layoffs are effective April 29 at midnight, according to the notice.

“While we regret this action, we don't have an alternative to reach a balanced budget,” Talbett said.

Even with the police layoffs, further trimming to various departments will be needed before the budget is finalized May 1, he added.

Talbett said Rossi is working on a new schedule for remaining officers to maintain village services.

“Of course we're concerned, but we have an obligation to provide the best service we can with the resources we have available,” he said.

The officers were notified of the layoffs March 23.

“We understand these are people we're talking about and we're very sensitive to how difficult this is,” Talbett said. “Having gone through one round of layoffs already, it's especially hard to go through another one.”

Rossi will meet with union representative Joseph Kalita on Wednesday to discuss the layoffs further. Kalita didn't return a message seeking comment Monday.

ŸDaily Herald staff writer Bob Susnjara contributed to this report.