Aldermen review draft of report from Springfield attorney about investigation into process of selecting Quincy police chief

QUINCY — Arguably the most important news from Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting happened in executive session. When the public will learn that news is yet to be determined.

Aldermen got their first look at a report prepared by Rick Stewart with Stewart Law Firm PC from Springfield. A complaint was received by a whistleblower — a city of Quincy employee — in November 2022 about the selection process of the chief of the Quincy Police Department, which took place in 2022. Deputy Chief Adam Yates eventually was promoted to the position after John Lewin rejected an offer from the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners.

A whistleblower complaint typically is confidential information provided about activity within a private or public organization deemed possibly illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent.

Jeff Mays, director of administrative services, reached out to Stewart after the city’s own legal staff and the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office were asked to investigate the whistleblower complaint — but both declined. 

“I told him (Troup) ‘I’m not going to get into this’,” said Adams County State’s Attorney Gary Farha in December. “The police department are my people. They are my witnesses. We have a job to do together to make this a safe community, and I’m not going to jeopardize that relationship. Also, (Adams) County isn’t going to pay for this.” 

The cost of legal expenses related to the investigation of a whistleblower complaint was capped at $25,000during the Aug. 23 City Council meeting.

Aldermen were expected to discuss the report with Stewart, who joined them remotely by video, for the first time in closed session.

“We’ll review his findings,” Quincy Mayor Mike Troup said. “What did he find? What does he know? Where is he in the process?”

If aldermen found the preliminary report satisfactory, Troup said he would ask Stewart to “wrap it up and make a final report.”

Corporation Counsel Bruce Alford did not know when the final report would be expected.

“I don’t know if (Stewart) is working this week or if he’s going take off tomorrow to go somewhere,” he said. 

Since replacing Rob Copley as the chief of police last summer, Yates says his focus has been and remains working with the officers of the Quincy Police Department and the citizens of Quincy.

“Since December of last year, when I was notified that the police department was under investigation, I’ve not had contact with anyone in relation to what the complaint was that led to the investigation or how long the investigation was going to take,” he said.

“At no point throughout the investigation was I ever contacted by anyone asking for any documents, asking for emails or asking me to make any type of statement. I’m assuming that the City Council will get the information tonight, and I trust they’ll make whatever decision they feel is appropriate.”

The rest of Monday’s meeting took 19 minutes, including the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call and an opening prayer.

Aldermen voted to:

• Give permission to the Quincy Boat Club to conduct two raffles between Dec. 1 through May 5, 2024.
• Allow the Salvation Army, the Great River Corvette Club and Muddy River Riders to hold their Angel Tree Parade on Dec. 9. The parade will be escorted by Quincy Police auxiliary officers. 
• Deny a request to install a streetlight at the intersection of 30th and Lincoln Hill NW.
• Deny a request to install a streetlight on Oak Street between 14th and 15th Streets.
• Allow the implementation of a four-way stop at the intersection of 16th and Sycamore.
• Agree with Troup’s appointments of Rev. Carl Terry and Whitney Thomson to the Human Rights Commission for three-year terms.
• Approve a resolution to authorize pension funding for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025 at or above the 100 percent actuarial recommended contribution funding level, with the fire pension at $4,908,135 and the police pension at $4,473,508.
• Amend an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into T-hanger lease agreements for the Quincy Regional Airport not exceeding two years. 
• Approved an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement for C-3 T-Hangar (with Scott Davis) and an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement for C-4 T-Hangar (with Jon Vonburg). 
• Approved an ordinance authorizing a loan application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a loan through the Public Water Supply Loan Program for $8.5 million.