Jim Harrison Follows Up on Des Plaines Arbitration Charges

A press release from Independent candidate for Sheriff Jim Harrison contains a letter to one Republican opponent, Bill Prim, and follows up on his first press release on the subject.

INVITATION TO BILL PRIM

Dear Bill,

Jim Harrison

Jim Harrison

On July 8, 2013, I disclosed an arbitration ruling that ties you to the police beatings in the Des Plaines police department.  I have stated and I maintain that your record of failed supervision over use of force incidents in the Des Plaines police department renders you unfit for the Office of Sheriff.  You have claimed that I “concocted an entire ‘fairy tale’ based on arbitrator’s ruling in a union grievance.”  You called the contents of these disclosures “frivolous” and “utterly baseless.”  Apparently, you and I define these terms very differently.

I can assure you that I do not consider abuses of power by the police, excessive force used against arrestees, and the beating of a handcuffed citizen to be “frivolous?”  Moreover, I consider a supervisor’s failure to take action to remedy these constitutional violations to be even worse!

The People of McHenry County have a right to know what information you knew concerning these matters, when you knew it, and what you did or failed to do about it.  The statement that you released on Monday failed to address several important facts pertaining to your knowledge and involvement in the John Bueno matters.  Therefore, I invite you to join me and to present your documentation, if any, and your side of the story in a suitable public forum.  I too will bring my investigation file so as to avoid allegations of making “utterly baseless” claims.  My committee has reached out to the Joe Walsh Show on W.I.N.D. radio as a possible forum for such a discussion; we are awaiting a reply.  I know that Joe Walsh is a declared supporter of yours, so having this type of open public discussion on his radio show would certainly offer you a friendly forum in which to present your position.

I believe these revelations concerning the excessive use of force incidents in Des Plaines and your personal involvement in these matters, are important matters of public concern, and I offer the opportunity to publicly discuss these matters with you.  Let’s help the People of McHenry County become informed on this issue; after all, they are the ones who have to elect a new Sheriff.  I await your response.

Jim Harrison
Independent Candidate for McHenry County Sheriff

Bill Prim’s Response

Bill Prim

Bill Prim

Mr. Harrison,

I have nothing further to add to the comprehensive statement I made on Monday. I wish you and your family a pleasant weekend.

Sincerely,

Bill Prim

= = = = =
Andy Zinke is facing off against Bill Prim in the March, 2014, Republican Party primary election. The winner will take on Independent Jim Harrison in November.


Comments

Jim Harrison Follows Up on Des Plaines Arbitration Charges — 14 Comments

  1. Thanks Mr. Harrison for bringing this forward , the report is disturbing at best!!

    What is the county inviting in!??

    Mr prim did absolutely nothing to discourage this behavior even after it was brought to his attention!!

    A complete failure of process and supervision, shame on you Mr Prim.. McHenry county does not need this, the residence of McHenry Co deserve better..

    Thank you Mr Harrison for caring..

  2. Prim already answered this.

    Harrison is just beating a dead horse.

    Last time I looked Prim was running against Zinke.

    Harrison is not in primary.

    He just wants to keep getting his name out there acting like a LAWYER.

    He knows Prim is the best candidate and want to help get Zinke in because he feels he can beat Zinke but he cannot beat Prim.

    Why?

    Prim is the best candidate!!

  3. FYI the only beating that was going on was done at the hands of Mr John Bueno as Mr. Prim looked on and did nothing to discourage that behavior, full breakdown of company and department process and procedures !!!

    How is he now fit to run the Sherriff office in McHenry Co. ??

  4. I heard that the conservative woman attorney who is watching may run for Sheriff as the Constitution Party Candidate.

  5. Being called as a witness does NOT indicate involvement or culpability.

    On 3 occasions I was called as a witness.

    A workplace issue and everyone in the department was called in.

    Most had nothing to offer, such as myself and other called in.

    2 auto accidents -I was not involved or even saw anything.

    I think Mr. Harrison might be trying to trick Prim into revealing some employee information that as a supervisor, Prim cannot legally speak about.

    Harrison is very much behaving like a lawyer.

    My brother is a lawyer and he always said “Basically, lawyers are actors on the courtroom stage.

    I do, also believe Prim answered.

    Comments suggested that he gave a man a good evaluation that struck some defendant.

    The last sentence in the Prim statement covers that.

    “Commander William Prim, the only witness the Union called to testify, was the Grievant’s supervisor prior to his termination (Tr. 546, 567). Prim testified that he never condoned the use of unnecessary force against the arrestees, he never rewarded an officer for the use of unnecessary force, and he never gave the Grievant a positive performance evaluation as a signal to condone excessive or unnecessary force (Tr. 562 – 563).”

  6. OT, maybe you should read the arbitration decision instead of Prim’s snippet.

    The arbitrator saw the bad effect of Prim’s good assessments of this rogue cop, John Bueno.

    That concept obviously escaped Prim.

    Three incidents and no reports?

    Prim dropped the ball.

    He wasn’t alone.

    The whole command staff at Des Plaines PD (including Prim) had a history of dropping the ball, looking the other way and failing to take action to stop this illegal conduct being committed by police officers.

    Really, read the decision.

  7. I wish Jim would just wait his turn.

    There will be plenty of time to discuss lawsuits with Bill after he wins the primary and gets rid of the cancer candidate.

    Obviously, Jim considers Bill more of a threat than Andy.

    If Jim is going to be truly Independent, he should be challenging Andy on the lawsuits where he is named as a witness.

    I can think of two right off the bat, Milliman and Seipler.

    Attack both Republicans equally or just wait to face the winner.

    Right now Jim just looks like a Zinke pawn.

  8. I get that Mr Prim says he doesn’t condone the Police Brutality on citizens that was repeatedly happening while he was Commander at the Des Plaines PD.

    But that is a pretty sad standard.

    What did he do to stop it from continuing?

    In what way did he document it?

    Quietly not condoning is simply a massive failure in his oath to serve and protect the safety of the public.

    It’s kind of a pattern emerging:

    Citizens are getting beat down and it is not his problem as he does little to nothing because he is not overtly supporting it?

    His supporters target the family of his opponent and it’s not his problem as he does nothing as he is not overtly supporting it?

    His supporters cry that Zinke broke a campaign rule that they are aware the Prim Campaign already broke and again he shrugs his shoulders and says nothing I can do?

    That is a real pattern of leadership.

    It’s not his problem, he doesn’t condone it why would you expect action?

    Sometimes lack of courage and leadership isn’t shown by action by inaction.

  9. There are beat downs in Mchenry county also.

    The Pavlin case is a prime example.

    Were the deputies disciplined, nope.

    Did the Pavlins take home a huge check from the taxpayers, yep.

    Were Hispanics racially profiled in Mchenry county, sure looks like it.

    But that will be settled in Zane’s case.

    Why doesn’t Harrison try and go win a case.

    Harrison has 7-8 years police experience, wow.

    the rookie deputies will really look up to him.

  10. The Pavlin case is a fair issue to debate if the Prim side wants to slide to issues.

    It’s a touchy one as many in the public are willing to be lenient of Deputies pursuing wife beaters but none the less if Deputies crossed the line they should be punished.

  11. As far as this subject (and I read the document) there is nothing further to add to what Bill Prim said….and I too wish you all a great weekend!…and those of you who know me also know I mean it!

    Come to the McHenry County Police Charities Donut Run tomorrow at the Woodstock Harley Davidson sign in at 9.

    C’mon and do something good with all that energy and suppor McHenry County kids!

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