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Sleepy Hollow hires interim police chief

Sleepy Hollow has hired an interim police chief to run its department until it locates a permanent chief.

On Monday night, the village board unanimously approved the selection of James Linane, Elburn’s former police chief and also a former deputy police chief in Carol Stream.

Linane was nominated by Village President Steven Pickett, who believes he will make an excellent interim police chief.

“I liked the overall resume and conversations I’ve had with the gentleman,” Pickett said. “He’s going to meet the people, get a grasp of our situation and we’ll be talking.”

But Linane doesn’t come without baggage.

Linane was fired from Elburn’s department in July 2009 after a new village president was elected.

Linane, hired in 2001, is suing the village for $85,000 in back pay and $63,000 in severance pay. It appears the village is not fighting his claim for back pay but is disputing his right to severance.

He is due in court again on Friday.

Pickett is aware of the lawsuit and said it was not a deterrent.

“I reviewed the situation, I’ve had a conversation with him, and I’m comfortable with the situation,” Pickett said, adding that Linane disclosed his lawsuit up front.

Linane was one of two people who interviewed for the post in Sleepy Hollow, which became available after Chief Jim Montalbano retired on July 31 after 38 years — Montalbano spent the last 23 years running the department. Pickett heard from at least 10 people who were interested in the job.

The board will still go ahead with finding a permanent replacement but won’t launch a full search until after the Illinois Association of Law Enforcement Executives completes its evaluation of the department’s policies and procedures.

“With that evaluation not possibly being done for another 60 or 90 days, we’ve got until the end of the year,” Pickett said.

Pickett did not have information on Linane’s salary and Linane could not be reached for comment Monday. His appointment is effective immediately.

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