Oak Brook police chief resigns

Oak Brook police Chief Thomas Sheahan, whose own officers gave him a vote of no confidence, has resigned after six years at the helm.

Village Manager David Niemeyer said Sheahan submitted his resignation Friday afternoon and it was effective immediately.

Sheahan will receive no severance beyond his final pay check and compensation for unused vacation time, Niemeyer said Tuesday.

Former Deputy Chief Steve Larson, who retired two weeks ago, temporarily was placed in charge of the department. Niemeyer said Larson agreed to a 30-day contract to serve as a consultant until new Village President Gopal Lalamani selects an interim or acting chief.

Lalamani, who was sworn in Monday night, said he plans to talk to Niemeyer and top police administrators as soon as possible.

“My plan will be to review the whole thing and appoint an acting chief or interim chief shortly,” he said Tuesday.

He said he will work with the village board to determine the scope of the search for a permanent replacement. “For now I’m taking it one day at a time,” he said.

Sheahan has been at the center of controversy since at least February when the village’s police union announced a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

Union members said they were unhappy with the chief’s approach to discipline and complained about a “glaring morale problem.” Those complaints prompted trustees to call for an outside investigation into the department.

Trustees approved a proposed “separation agreement” with the chief in late April, before the new board was seated, but Niemeyer said Sheahan rejected it.

Niemeyer would not say why Sheahan refused the offer or whether the village expects any legal action as a result.

Sheahan said as recently as last month that he was considering taking advantage of an early retirement incentive program for village employees but insisted it had nothing to do with the no-confidence vote from his officers.

A veteran of 25 years in law enforcement, he had served as chief since March 2005.

Lalamani, meanwhile, said one of his initial tasks as village president will be to “repair the morale issue” in the department by treating police officers with dignity and respect.

“This is my first day on the job and I need to get my feet wet,” he said. “But I like to have challenges and we are ready to address any and all challenges.”