Oak Brook police suspend Drew Peterson's son from job
Oak Brook authorities have suspended the son of accused wife-killer Drew Peterson from his post as a police officer there.
Joel Brodsky, an attorney for Drew Peterson, said Stephen Peterson was placed on paid leave Friday, though he hadn't seen the documents related to his suspension. Brodsky believes the suspension was related to testimony the younger Peterson gave earlier in the week regarding one of three guns his father left at the son's house that authorities claim was illegal.
Attempts to reach Oak Brook police officials and village leaders were unsuccessful Saturday.
The elder Peterson was a police officer in Bolingbrook. He is accused of killing his third wife Kathleen Savio and is suspected in the disappearance of his fourth, Stacy. He is currently in jailed for the murder charge as well as a felony gun charge.
Brodsky said Stephen Peterson would be represented by police union lawyer, but was "troubled" by the timing of the suspension.
"He's testified about this in 2007," Brodsky said. "Why wait three years? I can come to no other conclusion than they are trying to put pressure and get to Drew Peterson by attacking members of his family. It's the height of vindictiveness."
Brodsky said Stephen Peterson has been caring for his father's young children since Drew Peterson was jailed nearly a year and a half ago.
"Steve is a great kid and a good cop," Brodsky said.
Oak Brook police suspended the younger Peterson before, but Brodsky said Stephen Peterson successfully appealed those suspensions and was eventually paid for the days he was forced to take off. He has been with the department for six years.
Drew Peterson was first arrested on the gun charge when prosecutors alleged he possessed an assault rifle with too short of a barrel. It was one of the guns the father had left with the son days before Stacy Peterson was reported missing. Stephen Peterson surrendered the weapons to state police days after his father left them at the younger man's house.