Attorney: Elgin officer fired over Facebook posts can go back to work

An Elgin police officer fired last year after making Facebook posts can go back to work after an arbitrator's ruling, officials said.

Jason Lentz, a 17-year veteran, was fired Sept. 29, 2014 by the Elgin Police Department after the Facebook posts, which appeared to have racial connotations. Attorney Timothy O'Neill said Friday an arbitrator ruled Sept. 30 after a grievance was filed by the police union.

The arbitrator ruled Lentz' termination be reduced to a six-month suspension, which the arbitrator deemed was the appropriate discipline for Lentz's actions, Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said. That means Lentz will get six months' worth of back pay.

Lentz, 41, was fired after he was found guilty of engaging in "conduct that would undermine the credibility of the city or employees," police said. He also was found in violation of the department's social media policy.

"This ruling means that the City of Elgin has to abide by its own rules and the collective bargaining agreement," O'Neill said. "For me, it meant exposing the truth. For officer Lentz, it means getting his life back after one year of economic strangulation."

City Manager Sean Stegall and Corporation Counsel Bill Cogley did not immediately return calls for comment.

Swoboda said he'll meet with Stegall, Cogley and police union representatives next week to discuss "the next steps."

Members of the police department read the Facebook posts and an internal investigation was launched in late August 2014, leading to Lentz's termination.

Lentz's Facebook posts dated back to August 2013. One post from August 2014 said Missouri Police Officer Darren Wilson "did society a favor" when he shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown in August 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.

Police records show Lentz was disciplined several times since his hiring in January 1997.