Caseyville Mayor Len Black fired Police Chief Jose Alvarez Friday, the second time in 16 days.
On-again, off-again Caseyville Police Chief Jose Alvarez
The last time Black fired Alvarez, he said it was because the chief’s administrative skills were lacking, but that he was an otherwise fine officer.
“He’s a good investigator, a good crime-fighter, a good person, he’s honest,” Black said. “There is nothing I can say bad about him.”
Just more than two weeks later, and following a heated exchange at a Feb. 18 Village Board meeting. Black does not have the same words of praise. Black said the firing this time was for the safety of the citizens of Caseyville.
In a statement, Black told the Village Board that, if they reinstate Alvarez the mayor is fearful for the residents of the village. Black, in that statement, warned the Board members that, if “something tragic” happens, it will be entirely in their hands.
Asked if he was afraid when Alvarez confronted him about statements he made at the Feb. 18 meeting that Alvarez felt were lies, Black said, “certainly I was scared, you never know when someone is going to flip out like that.”
Black said the board members should have also been concerned for their safety.
“We’re like sitting ducks up there. He’s got a gun, we don’t have a gun,” Black said. When someone has a gun, and is ranting and raving, you have to be a little concerned.”
After the confrontation, the Board went into closed session. When they returned, they voted 6-0 in favor of reappointing Alvarez. Black said the move showed he did not have the support of the board at that time.
“I think it might have been a bit of retaliation against me, maybe it was political,” Black said.
Unlike last time, when Black acted on his own, he notified the Board members through email or letter of his plans, he said. He had not received a response from any board member by 1 p.m. Saturday.
Sergeant Frank Moore has been appointed the interim chief for the third time. Moore took over when Alvarez’s predecessor, JD Roth, was ousted while under federal investigation and when Alvarez was fired the first time.
A search for a permanent replacement for Alvarez will wait until Black knows if Alvarez will be reinstated. Black does not expect that answer until the next Village Board meeting on March 19.
After the last firing, Black said he would look outside the department for someone who could bring the “fractured” department together. On Saturday, he said Moore could bring together a department Alvarez had divided. On Feb. 12, Black said the firing of Alvarez would not be good for the short-term morale of the department.
One similarity with the two firings is that Alvarez was notified by John Gilbert, the attorney for Caseyville, both times. Black called a meeting for Friday at 4 p.m. to tell Alvarez about the second firing. When reached by someone within the police department, Alvarez said he was out for the day and was not sure if he could make the meeting, Black said.
When Alvarez was not at the meeting at 4:15, Gilbert phoned him and told him he was fired for insubordination, Black said.
Asked to address Alvarez’s statement that Black is acting at the direction Bob Romanik, a local radio personality, and frequent lunch-time companion of Black’s, the mayor said “It’s just not true.”
“He doesn’t make any decisions that I know of,” Black said. “He’s never asked me for anything.”
At the Feb. 18 Board meeting, Alvarez had a different take.
“I have never had control over this police department. Bob Romanik runs this police department, and he runs the city of Caseyville,” Alvarez said. “Everything you just said, he said on his radio show.”
An audience member later addressed Black to say that the citizens see Black and Romanik eating together frequently at a Caseyville eatery. “You only won by four votes. You keep it on the right path and don’t do what your friends say,” the man said.
Attempts to reach Alvarez, and board members Rick Casey Jr. and Brenda Williams were unsuccessful.
