R-1139 - 10/25/2011 - POLICE AGREEMNT - Resolutions ExhibitsEXECUTION COPY
VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
CHIEF OF POLICE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Chief of Police Employment Agreement ( "Agreement ") is made and entered into as
of the 26th day of October , 2011, by and between the Village of Oak Brook, DuPage County,
Illinois, an Illinois municipal corporation (the "Village "), and James R. Kruger, Jr. ( "Kruger ").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3 -1 -2A of the Village Code of the Village of Oak Brook
(the "Village Code "), the Chief of Police of the Village ( "Chief of Police ") shall be appointed by
the Village President on the basis of merit, fitness, and experience, with the approval of the
Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, after completing the interview process, the Village President desires to
appoint Kruger as Chief of Police, and Kruger desires to be employed as Chief of Police; and
WHEREAS, Kruger and the Village have agreed that it is appropriate to document the
terms and conditions of Kruger's employment by the Village; and
WHEREAS, the Village and Kruger agree that the terms and conditions as provided in
this Agreement are appropriate for the employment of Kruger as Chief of Police; and
WHEREAS, the Village President and Board of Trustees have determined that entering
into this Agreement is in the best interests of the Village and its residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions set forth
below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
mutually acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Village and Kruger hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Recitals
The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.
Section 2. Employment as Chief of Police; At -Will Employment;
A. Employment. The Village hereby agrees to employ Kruger as Chief of Police
beginning on November 28, 2011, and Kruger accepts such employment and agrees to perform
the functions and duties of that position as provided in the Oak Brook Municipal Code in effect
as of the date of this Agreement, and to perform such other legally permissible and proper duties
and functions as the Village shall from time to time assign. A copy of the applicable provisions
of the Village Code are attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit A.
EXECUTION COPY
B. At -Will Employment. Kruger shall be employed at the will of the Board of
Trustees.
Section 3. Exclusivity; Outside Interests
Kruger shall work exclusively for the Village. He shall work diligently, utilizing his best
efforts in the performance of the services hereunder. He shall devote his entire business time,
attention, and energies to the performance of the services hereunder and shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Village Manager, actively engage in any income- or profit - generating
activities other than his employment with the Village. Kruger shall be considered to be on call
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Notwithstanding these provisions, Kruger shall be entitled to
explore and cultivate outside interests in activities that may from time to time generate income
for Kruger; provided, however, that Kruger shall not engage in any such income - producing
outside interest without the prior express knowledge and specific written consent of the Village
Manager.
Section 4. Compensation; Benefits
A. Base Salary. The Village agrees to pay Kruger an annual base salary of $125,000,
payable in installments in accordance with the Village's regular payroll procedures. Increases in
Kruger's salary shall be based on merit as determined through the performance evaluation
procedure set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
B. Vacation and Personal Days. Kruger shall be entitled to fifteen (15) days of
vacation and three (3) personal days each year. No more than five (5) unused vacation days may
be carried over to succeeding years, but only in the manner and to the extent provided in the
Village's Personnel Manual, as may be amended from time to time. Personal days can not be
carried over to succeeding years. Kruger shall be entitled to twenty (20) days of vacation upon
completion of five (5) years of service with the Village.
C. Sick Leave. Kruger shall be credited with six (6) days of sick leave upon
beginning his employment with the Village ( "Sick Leave Credit "), Kruger shall be entitled to
additional sick leave as follows: during the first year of his employment, one day of sick leave
every two months; after the first year of employment, one day of sick leave every month. Sick
Leave Credit may be accrued only as provided in this Agreement. No compensation shall be paid
to Kruger for any unused sick leave, except in accordance with the Village's Personnel Manual.
D. Automobile. Kruger is considered on -call 24/7, and the Village agrees to provide
Kruger with the use of a Village -owned vehicle for official use and reasonable and prudent
personal use as described by the Internal Revenue Service. The Village shall be responsible for
paying for liability, property damage, and comprehensive insurance coverage on such vehicle
and shall further be responsible for all expenses attendant to the purchase, operation,
maintenance, repair, and regular replacement of said vehicle, except for (1) car washes other than
the use of the regularly contracted car washing service used for other police vehicles within the
Village and (2) fuel for the vehicle when used for personal travel more than 250 miles from the
Village (collectively, the "Vehicle Expenses "). Kruger shall be responsible to promptly report to
2
#10704338_v3
EXECUTION COPY
the Village Manager any accidents or mechanical problems or defects concerning any Village -
owned vehicle provided to Kruger, and must obey all state, federal, and local regulations
concerning the use of the Village -owned vehicle.. Alternatively, the Village may, in its sole
discretion, elect to provide Kruger with an automobile allowance, in an annual amount mutually
agreed to by Kruger and the Village, to allow Kruger to purchase or lease his own automobile in
lieu of providing a Village -owned vehicle, provided that if the Village elects to provide an
automobile allowance in lieu of a Village -owned vehicle, the Village will not pay the Vehicle
Expenses or any other expenses related to the vehicle other than the automobile allowance
payment.
E. Retirement and Pension Plan. Kruger shall, in accordance with all applicable
laws, become a member of the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund ( "Village Pension Fund "). The
Village agrees to fund the actual costs of transferring Kruger's creditable service time from the
Roselle Police Pension Fund up to the amount of $5,000, with Kruger to bear any such actual
costs exceeding $5,000; alternatively, if Kruger chooses not to transfer his creditable service
time from the Roselle Police Pension Fund, the Village will provide Kruger with a one -time
payment of $5,000 to fund an ICMA retirement plan designated by Kruger. Kruger
acknowledges and agrees that any transfer of his existing pension credits and rights will only be
into the Village Pension Fund. Kruger further acknowledges and agrees that he will not enroll in
the Sheriffs Law Enforcement Program ( "SLEP ") of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
( "IMRF ") and that the Village has relied on his representation that he will not enroll in SLEP in
extending him its offer of employment pursuant to this Agreement.
F. Insurance Plans; Life Insurance. Kruger shall be entitled to participate in
employee insurance and retirement benefit plans or programs of the Village provided to other
Village employees generally to the extent that his position, tenure, salary, age, health, and other
qualifications make him eligible to participate, subject to the rules and regulations applicable
thereto. The Village shall pay, during Kruger's employment with the Village, the premiums for
a term life insurance policy selected by the Village in the amount of $100,000 on the life of
Kruger, with a beneficiary as designated by Kruger. Kruger may purchase additional coverage
under the term life insurance policy at his sole cost. After termination of this Agreement, Kruger
may opt to take said policy, but Kruger thereafter shall be responsible for all payments and
charges related to said policy.
Section 5. Taxes
All payments made to Kruger pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement shall be subject to
the usual and appropriate payroll, personnel, and benefits policies of the Village as well as the
requirements of any applicable federal, state, or local laws, including appropriate tax
withholdings. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or interpreted as requiring the Village
to pay, directly or by way of reimbursement to Kruger, any federal or state income tax liability
that Kruger may incur as a result of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
herein.
3
#1070433523
EXECUTION COPY
Section 6. Performance Evaluation
The Village Manager shall review and evaluate the performance of Kruger every six
months for the first two years of Kruger's employment, beginning on the six month anniversary
of his initial date of employment, and annually thereafter.. Each review and evaluation shall be
in accordance with criteria developed by the Village Manager and the results of each review and
evaluation will be shared with and reviewed by the Village President and the Board of Trustees.
Section 7. No Residency Requirement
Kruger is not required to reside in the Village while employed with the Village pursuant
to this Agreement.
Section 8. General Business Expenses; Professional Organizations
The Village agrees to reimburse Kruger for all necessary and reasonable expenses
incurred by him in the performance of his duties, tasks, and responsibilities in his position as
Chief of Police under this Agreement, subject to the presentation of appropriate vouchers in
accordance with all applicable Village rules and policies and subject to review and approval by
the Village Manager. Reimbursable expenses include dues and fees for Kruger's membership in
professional organizations that are approved in advance by the Village Manager on an annual
basis and are previously budgeted by the Village, but do not include expenses related to
attendance at in -state or out -of -state conferences unless those conference - related expenses are
previously budgeted by the Village and approved by the Village Manager.
Section 9. Confidentiality
Kruger acknowledges that Kruger has had and will have access to confidential
information ( "Confidential Information ") that is not generally known outside, or in some cases
inside, the corporation known as the Village of Oak Brook. Confidential Information shall not
include public documents or information that would otherwise constitute Confidential
Information but that has lawfully become public. Kruger covenants and warrants that, both
during and after Kruger's employment, Kruger shall not directly or indirectly use, divulge,
furnish, or make accessible Confidential Information to any person, firm, or corporation other
than persons, firms, or corporations employed and/or retained by the Village in a fiduciary
capacity without the prior express written authorization of the Village, but instead Kruger shall
keep all Confidential Information strictly and absolutely confidential except as otherwise
provided herein.
Section 10. Termination; Cooperation in Litigation
As provided in Section 2 of this Agreement, Kruger shall be employed at the will of the
Board of Trustees and thus may be terminated by the Board of Trustees at any time without
cause. Kruger also may be terminated for just cause.
4
N10704338_v3
EXECUTION COPY
A. Termination without Cause. The Board of Trustees may determine at any time,
without cause, that Kruger shall no longer serve as the Chief of Police. In the event of
termination without cause, Kruger shall be entitled to severance pay and benefits as provided in
Section 11 of this Agreement.
B. Termination for Just Cause. The Board of Trustees may determine that there is
just cause for termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "just cause" means (i) acts of Kruger
of misfeasance or malfeasance in office and/or conviction of Kruger for fraud, misappropriation,
or embezzlement involving property of the Village, (ii) conviction of Kruger of a felony offense,
(iii) conviction of Kruger of a misdemeanor offense, which conviction results directly from a
reduction, through a plea agreement, of a felony charge against Kruger, (iv) failure of Kruger to
properly perform, or neglect by Kruger of, the duties of the position of Chief of Police, or (v)
conduct of Kruger that causes harm to the reputation of the Village.
If the Board of Trustees seeks to terminate Kruger for just cause, then Kruger shall be
given not less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice setting forth the date, time, and place
of a hearing at which Kruger may be heard regarding the basis on which the Board of Trustees
seeks to terminate Kruger's employment. The notice shall include a statement of the specific
basis for the Board of Trustees' determination that just cause exists for termination. Kruger shall
have ten (10) days within which to file a written response to the statement of charges, if he so
desires. Kruger shall have the right to require that any hearing be conducted in the Village Hall.
Kruger also shall have the right to require that any hearing be conducted in executive session.
C. Cessation of Compensation and Benefits. If the Village terminates Kruger's
employment at any time for cause, then Kruger will not be eligible for any additional
compensation or benefits under this Agreement, including without limitation any severance pay
or benefits provided in Section 11 of this Agreement. ,
D. Cooperation in Liti ation. During and after his employment with the Village,
Kruger agrees to fully and completely cooperate with the Village in all potential litigation or
litigation in which the Village is involved or may become involved and for which Kruger is
needed either to provide information or to serve as a witness on behalf of the Village. The terms
and conditions of this Subsection shall survive the termination of Kruger's Village employment,
Section It. Severance
A. Severance Payment. If Kruger is terminated without a determination of just cause
pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, then the Village shall pay Kruger severance in an
amount equal to six (6) months base salary at Employee's then- current rate of pay. The
severance shall be paid to Kruger in six (6) equal installments.
B. Subsequent Employment. If Kruger obtains full -time employment similar or
comparable to that held under the terms of this Agreement within the six (6) month period during
which he is receiving severance from the Village under this Section 11, then he shall
immediately advise the Board of Trustees in writing, whereupon said severance shall be
discontinued.
5
N10704335_v3
EXECUTION COPY
C. No Severance for Resignation or Termination for Just Cause. If Employee
voluntarily resigns or is terminated for just cause, then the Village is not obligated to, and shall
not, pay severance to Kruger under this Section 11.
D, Temporary Continuance of Health Benefits. If Kruger is terminated without a
determination of just cause pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, Kruger may elect to
continue to participate in the Village's health insurance program for up to six (6) months after his
termination, in which case Kruger's employee costs for participating in the Village's health
insurance program will be deducted from the severance paid to Kruger pursuant to Section I LA
of this Agreement. Upon the expiration of the six month period provided in this Section I LD, or
immediately upon Kruger's termination for just cause or Kruger's resignation, Kruger may seek
continuance of his health insurance benefits at his own expense pursuant to COBRA.
Section 12. Resignation
If Kruger voluntarily resigns his position with the Village, then Kruger shall provide the
Village President and Village Manager a minimum of sixty (60) days advance written notice
prior to his resignation date.
Section 13. Indemnification
A. To the extent permitted by law, the Village shall defend, hold harmless, and
indemnify Kruger against any tort, professional liability claim or demand, or other legal action,
whether groundless or otherwise, arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the
performance of Kruger's duties and responsibilities as Chief of Police or resulting from the
exercise of judgment or discretion in connection with the performance of those duties or
responsibilities, unless the act or omission involved gross negligence or willful or wanton
conduct. The Village shall indemnify Kruger against any and all losses, damages, judgments,
interest, settlements, fines, court costs, and other reasonable costs and expenses of legal
proceedings including attorneys' fees, and any other liabilities incurred by, imposed upon, or
suffered by Kruger in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding,
actual or threatened, arising out of or in connection with the performance of his duties pursuant
to this Agreement. Any settlement of any claim must be made with prior approval of the Village
in order for indemnification, as provided in this Section, to be available.
B. Kruger recognizes that the Village shall have the right to compromise and settle
any claim or suit unless said compromise or settlement is of a personal nature to Kruger.
Further, the Village agrees to pay all reasonable litigation expenses of Kruger throughout the
pendency of any litigation to which Kruger is a party, witness, or advisor to the Village arising
out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of Kruger's duties and
responsibilities as Chief of Police. Such expense payments shall continue beyond Kruger's
service to the Village as long as litigation is pending.
6
N10704338_v3
EXECUTION COPY
Section 14. Notices
Notice pursuant to this Agreement shall be given by depositing the same with the United
States Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Village:
With a copy to:
Village of Oak Brook
Attention: Village Manager
1200 Oak Brook Road
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
Peter M. Friedman
Village Attorney
Holland & Knight LLP
131 South Dearborn St., 30th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
If to Kruger: James R. Kruger, Jr.
221 Hilltop Lane
Sleepy Hollow, IL 60118
Alternatively, notice required pursuant to this Agreement may be served personally in the same
manner as is applicable to civil judicial practice. Notice shall be deemed to be made on the date
of personal service or on the third day after mailing.
Section 15. General Provisions
A. Entirety of Agreement. The Village and Kruger agree that no representations,
promises, or agreements have been made to them or with them with respect to the subject matter
of this Agreement and the consideration described herein except those contained in this
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement between the Village and
Kruger with respect to the subject matter of the Agreement and supersedes all prior or
contemporaneous agreements, understandings, and representations, oral and written, with respect
to such subject matter.
B. Amendments. The parties by mutual written agreement may amend any provision
of this Agreement during the life of the Agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated and
made a part of this Agreement.
C. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on the Village and Kruger as
well as their heirs, assigns, executors, personal representatives, and successors in interest.
D. Severability. The invalidity or partial invalidity of any portion of this Agreement
will not effect the validity of any other provision. In the event that any provision of this
#10704338_v3
EXECUTION COPY
Agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and
effect as if they have been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement or judicial
modification of the invalid provision.
E. State Law. The validity, interpretation, construction, and performance of this
Agreement (and every other issue arising under this Agreement) shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to conflicts
of law principles.
F. Section Headings. Section headings herein are for convenience and reference
only and in no way define, limit, or enlarge the rights and obligations of the parties under this
Agreement.
SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON SUBSEQUENT PAGE
#I0704338_v3
EXECUTION COPY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement below.
VILLAGE OF
By:
Gop alani, Village President
Date: 1V01 2011
Witnessed:
Charlotte K. Pruss, Village Clerk
7
a. 1
i
410704338_v3