Sandwich debates police spending on gun, camera

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SANDWICH - Mayor Tom Thomas told the city council at its committee meeting Monday night that he would veto the previously approved payment of two bills from city police officers. Both bills were requests to spend portions of the officers' annual clothing and equipment allowance. However, according to the city's regulations for the police department, which were last updated in 1984, the purchase of the requested gun and camera is prohibited, Thomas said. Police Chief Richard Olson approved the requests and the council approved payment when it OK'd the monthly budget at last week's meeting. &#8220When I get a voucher, I usually have the department head sign it before I get it. I put a lot of faith in the department heads,” said 3rd Ward Alderman Harold Dannewitz, who heads the budget committee. &#8220I don't question every voucher I sign.” Olson said that he approved the camera for a sergeant who wanted one to carry in his bag because he thought a camera fell into the parameters of the regulations that give police officers an allowance for clothing and equipment. Olson added that he took &#8220full responsibility” for signing the voucher from another officer to purchase a gun and that he now understands the city regulations. Some aldermen, while recognizing that the regulations on the books prohibit the purchase of the gun and camera, questioned following the 22-year-old rules. &#8220Sometimes we have to modernize some things and go with the flow,” said Rich Robinson, 1st Ward. &#8220Specific things need to be up to the department head.” Thomas said the council needs to update the regulations, and Olson added that he is now preparing updates to present to the council. &#8220It's an unfortunate situation for the officers, the council, the mayor and the chief,” Thomas said. &#8220It tells the employees we don't know what we're doing out here.” Thomas said he will veto the bills at the council's meeting next week. If aldermen choose to pay the bills, they can overturn the veto with a two-thirds majority vote. Direct hit to police station A direct hit by a bolt of lightning around 4:30 a.m. Monday created a &#8220disaster” at the Sandwich police station, according to Olson. The hit took out telephone lines, radio communication and office computers. Olson said that even though the office used surge-protecting outlets, the lightning bolt was strong enough to bypass them. &#8220I'm hoping that there's enough insurance to handle it all. This is going to be very costly,” Olson said. &#8220I'll have numbers for you once the dust settles.” Olson said this morning that &#8220the emergency 911 was never down,” and that the city relied on a local backup system. DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott also said the sheriff's dispatch center takes 911 calls from Sandwich if the Sandwich dispatch center is disabled. EPA questions city's burning ban City Attorney Bernard Paul told the council that he received a letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency informing him that an ordinance passed last month to prohibit open burning in the city contained language that is not in accordance with state statute. The ordinance says that only limited amounts of paper and cardboard can be burned in a wire mesh burner, but the state regulations allow for burning of household waste. Complaints to the IEPA generated the letter he received, Paul said, adding that burning ordinances are watched very closely by concerned residents. Paul said he will remove the offending language and present the revised ordnance to the council next week.