Lake in the Hills police want to fill position

The Lake in the Hills police department wants to fill a newly open position after an officer who hasn’t worked due to injury in almost two years was terminated earlier this week.

Lake in the Hills Director of Police and Public Safety James Wales said the department has reached out to two police officers who were laid off in December 2010 to fill the spot vacated by officer Craig James, whom the Lake in the Hills Police Commission voted to terminate after a hearing on Tuesday.

James wasn’t immediately available for comment. He was a 13-year-veteran of the police department when he suffered what he says was an on-the-job back injury in December 2009. Last month, Wales filed a complaint to discharge James, who hasn’t worked since August 2010.

James’ pending workers’ compensation and police pension claims will not be affected by his termination, Wales said. “The only thing this had to do with was filling his position with someone who can go out in the street,” he said.

James had a spinal fusion in December 2010 and additional corrective surgery last November. He used his sick, vacation and comp time to stay on the department’s payroll with a salary of $81,675 through March 2011. He then was granted a one-year leave without pay.

Wales said he doesn’t know if the two officers contacted by the department are currently employed. If neither takes the job, the department will start going through its eligibility list, he said. Last month, the department had a roster of 38 sworn officers.