I've learned my lesson!

Dear Ms. Jillian Duchnowski:

Boy have I learned my lesson; never talk to the press with the expectation that the truth will be revealed by them. In most cases you can probably expect that you will get a STORY created to titillate the readers and stir controversy and increase sales and circulation and not even an attempt at getting at the underlying factors that are at the heart of the matter. What a lot of reporters (not journalists) want is to get their STORY on the front page of a newspaper in big black print with their name written below.

I also resent the implied insinuation that I doled out pain meds like some street corner dealer supplying his customers with their needs. If I could count the times I gave patients free samples or medications (freely at my cost) that they needed but could not afford it might be more than the hairs on your head. I am truly saddened and disheartened at the way you approached this, seemingly setting up your agenda to go where you wanted to go and report and dismissing the things that did not fit your agenda or version of the truth. I wish you well on your journey to become a journalist.

Do the right thing....get fired!

Ron Schwartz, a Chicago-based attorney specializing in employment law stated." I think people want to believe their employer will do the right thing. A lot of times, an internal complaint is made and if the employer isn't sympathetic, the employee is fired. This just doesn't happen in Chicago, it happens right here in McHenry County in both private businesses and governmental agencies large and small. That is why we have "whistle blower laws" that not only are supposed to protect the whistle blower but a witness who might appear in court to support the whistle blower's charge or charges.

What happens in many cases is that before the case ever comes to court the witness of the alleged misdeed is gotten rid of, fired, discredited in some fashion so that if and when he/she does get to court they are discredited by the defendants attorney as not being credible. I know of at least two alleged instances when this perhaps legal but I believe unethical legal tactic has and is being used to protect the "boss" and the "boss's" boss. Now don't you feel better about the intrinsic goodness of our human nature and your fellow man or woman....hmmmm...bull.

Lowest Morale in Police Department I can remember

I have lived in McHenry County almost 35 years and ran a business in Woodstock for almost 25 years. I have been involved in trying to protect the public health of this county for almost 10 years. This means, to me, that I have been "around the block a few times" in this county. I have over the years talked to a lot of people about a lot of things and have been exposed to things people are concerned and are talking about.

Lately one hot topic that people in and outside of the Woodstock Police Department have been privately vocal about is that allegedly this period of time under the current leadership at the police department has evoked one of the lowest periods of morale in the rank and file of the patrol officers. They allegedly are affraid to say anything to anyone lest they are placed in the "crosshairs" of a superior and deamed a "non-team player". So they allegedly remain quiet and not active in reporting things that maybe should be reported; that way they keep their jobs and pensions and don't incurr the wrath of their leadership.

When you pass by the relatively new police station and view the apparent peace and tranquility of its exterior remember that appearances are not always what they seem to be and that what goes on inside may not correlate to the peace and serenity of the outside shell that the building presents to the general public.

What would you do?

Hypothetically what would you do with a city department head who allegedly (Chapter 21, Subchapter I >1985); covertly (1) prevented an officer from pursuing his/her duties in investigating a possible injustice? With a city department head who allegedly covertly (2) obstructed justice and allegedly intimidated a potential witness in a filed civil rights case with the State against said department head? A department whose head allegedly (3) oppresses, threatens, or intimidates any person in any State in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same. (US CODE Title 18,241, Conspiracy against rights) They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. At least that's a beginning. Remember this is just hypothetical.