Crystal Lake park board president wears bulletproof vest to meeting amid heightened security
The president of the Crystal Lake Park District board wore a bulletproof vest to the panel’s meeting Monday, one of several heightened security measures taken amid hostile sessions that have included yelling, personal jabs and booing from the public.
Residents attending Monday’s meeting were met with a security scanner, several Crystal Lake Park District police officers and a metal detector at the entrance of the Main Beach Pavilion where the meeting was held.
The measures will continue for the “foreseeable future,” officials said.
“I’ve been having people mouth swear words at me during meetings. I’ve been having people make fists at me during meetings, and if you don’t think this is real, just look at how you guys are acting right now,” board President Frederick Tiesenga said as residents shook their heads and booed.
Tiesenga said being he’s been characterized as a “Nazi” and “fascist” on social media and that “is right out of the Democratic liberal playbook on how to demonize somebody.” That statement was met with even louder booing and yelling from the crowd.
A request also was made for bulletproof glass to be placed in front of board members, according to emails between park board members and staff, obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
The new safety measures, along with recording upgrades with improved audio and video capabilities, came with a bill of about $3,800, Commissioner Cathy Cagle said.
Cagle asked Tiesenga if he could work with staff to find ways to make him feel safe “that perhaps cost less money.”
“We are going to have to have security that is commensurate with the threat,” Tiesenga said.
Crystal Lake resident and attorney Tom Burney called out from the audience: “Why does the park district have to pay for your paranoia?”
Commissioner Jason Heisler backed the extra security, saying leaving the meetings and getting to the parking lot “is very nerve-wracking.”
Things got heated near the end of Monday evening’s meeting while security measures were being discussed. A resident yelled out from the crowd that Tiesenga has been condescending to the board and the residents.
Tiesenga responded by asking police present, “Can you take her out of here, please?” The resident left before police acted.
The meeting started with Cagle asking residents to “tone it down” and “bring a little more mutual respect.”
Tiesenga seemingly referred to the assassination of conservative activist and suburban native Charlie Kirk. The meeting was held a day after the memorial for Kirk, who was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking in Utah.
“Yesterday we were reminded of the ultimate cost and tragedy of escalating rhetoric and violence used to try to interrupt, overwhelm and silence reasoned, rational discussion,” Tiesenga said.
Since new board members took office in May, many of the board’s actions have been made in 4-3 votes, with the majority being newcomers Tiesenga, Keith Nisenson and Richard Hickey, along with Heisler.
Many residents, along with board members in the minority, have been critical of the new majority’s swift actions.
Those include replacing the longtime park district attorney with former board member who chose not to seek reelection this year, at a higher pay rate; ending an intergovernmental agreement with Crystal Lake and Lakewood in favor of a new contract; reconstituting a lake advisory panel with a lakefront homeowners group; and ending the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy.