20130318 PR-Officer Drew Peterson-Court Affirms Discharge
Press Release
Contact: Blaine Wing
Phone: (630) 368-5022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Email: bwing@oak-brook.org
Court Affirms Board’s Decision to Discharge Officer Peterson
Oak Brook, Illinois – March 18, 2013 – In Circuit Court this morning, Judge Terence M. Sheen issued a
written statement that upholds the Oak Brook Board of Fire and Police Commission’s decision to
discharge Officer Stephen Peterson.
Specifically Judge Sheen’s opinion found that, “In this case, it was in no way arbitrary or unreasonable
for the Board to conclude that Officer Peterson exhibited conduct incompatible with continued service
as a police officer. Therefore, this Court finds that Officer Peterson’s conduct, when viewed in its
entirety warrants the sanction of discharge.”
As noted on February 19, 2011, the Board sustained the charges brought against Peterson for violating
State Statute and several Oak Brook police conduct regulations. In sustaining the charges, the Board
cited, among other things, the contradictory testimony that Peterson gave concerning his purported
reason the weapons were given to him, the circumstances by which funds were transferred to him, as
well as his rationale for not immediately disclosing the above information to the Illinois State Police.
Overall, the Board of Fire and Police Commission found that Peterson “exercised extremely poor
judgment with respect to the weapons and money that he received from his father, Drew Peterson.”
The Board further found that Peterson’s testimony and demeanor at the hearing demonstrated his
refusal to acknowledge any error in judgment on his part. Today's ruling affirmed the Board's decision
in its entirety.
Stephen Peterson has 30 days to appeal this morning’s decision to the Illinois Appellate Court.
About Oak Brook:
Founded in 1958, the Village of Oak Brook is located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago and is in
proximity to the junction of Interstates 88, 294, and 290. The Village consists mostly of residential
subdivisions, with the exception of the Oak Brook Center shopping mall, other retail and office
properties along 22nd Street and Interstate 88. Oak Brook is the home of many corporate offices, most
notably, the world headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation, Ace Hardware, Tree House Foods, Inland
Real Estate and the service club organization Lions Clubs International. Oak Brook is also known for
being one of the few municipalities in the Chicago area that does not levy a property tax on residents or
businesses. To learn more about Oak Brook, please visit http://www.oak-brook.org.
###