Demonstrators again disrupt Mundelein board meeting
For the second time this week, demonstrators upset about a Mundelein woman’s fatal shooting by police in May disrupted a village board meeting Thursday.
After more than an hour of public comments about 37-year-old Mary Alice Love’s death, protesters interrupted a trustee’s unrelated report to chant and yell at village leaders on the dais. When the demonstrators — including Love’s father, Johnny Love, who called officials cowards — refused to be quiet, officials halted the meeting and left the room.
The demonstrators eventually were ushered out of the boardroom by uniformed officers. Once they were out of the building, officials returned and resumed the meeting.
No one was arrested, Police Chief Tom Poynor said afterward.
The meeting was the first to proceed in Mundelein since Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced last week that no charges would be filed in Love’s killing, which was ruled a homicide by the Lake County coroner’s office this summer.
The Love family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit last week against Mundelein and police Sgt. Christopher Brigano, who reportedly fired the deadly shots.
A departmental investigation into whether officers’ actions at the Love home were consistent with policies, procedures and training is ongoing. Brigano is on paid administrative leave pending that investigation’s outcome.
The village board was supposed to meet Monday night, but the session was canceled after demonstrators occupied the boardroom for more than an hour. Village Administrator Eric Guenther subsequently said security would be enhanced at future meetings.
About 20 uniformed police officers stood guard inside and outside village hall for Thursday’s meeting, including in the boardroom.
Additionally, in an unusual step for a public governmental building during operating hours, village hall’s front doors were locked Thursday to keep people out. Officers unlocked the doors each time someone wanted to enter.
At a table in the lobby, officers inspected visitors’ purses and other bags. In the boardroom, portable barriers with “Do Not Cross” signs kept people from approaching the dais where officials sat.
After the board meeting ended, Guenther said the session went about as well as officials anticipated. While officials want to give demonstrators time to speak and want to hear what they have to say, Monday’s occupation of the board room was “unacceptable,” Guenther said.
“We do have to conduct village business,” he said.
Before the session, Love family attorney Kevin O’Connor criticized officials for holding the meeting at 1 p.m. rather than the usual 7 p.m. start time. O’Connor called it a “sneak attack meeting.”
rlissau@dailyherald.com