Orland Park, Ill. (ECWd) –
After we published articles on the Orland Fire Protection District spending $432k on Media Relations and $18k to diversity consultant while she was incarcerated in a federal penitentiary, the Orland Professional Firefighters Union wrote a letter to the district’s board asking for an independent investigation into matters such as these.
Letter below:
OFPD Board of Trustees,
The Orland Professional Firefighters IAFF-AFFI Local 2754 have been closely monitoring the ongoing accusations on social media regarding misappropriations and the appearance of significant conflicts regarding contract awards at the Orland Fire Protection District. Local 2754 and its members have sworn to serve and protect the citizens within the District. However, if proven, the alleged financial mismanagement and improprieties would have a potential negative impact on our ability to continue to provide the level of services to the citizens that they have come to expect and deserve.
The allegations do not come as a surprise to our membership. We have had similar suspicions for quite some time, but have had no ability to verify any of our suspicions. We believe it is our collective responsibility to the District and its citizens to take all actions necessary to uncover and stop any further financial missteps. Given the proximity of our membership in the day-to-day operations of the District, we could provide invaluable information in any investigation into these claims.
While it is certainly within the purview of the Board to investigate these allegations in a manner it sees fit, to remove any doubt regarding impartiality we are requesting that the District utilize the services of an independent special counsel and/or the Public Integrity Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s office to conduct any such investigation. Local 2754 is committed to fully cooperate in any investigation so that we may continue to perform our jobs at the highest level in the fire service.
Respectfully written,
Executive Board
Orland Professional Firefighters
IAFF-AFFI Local 2754
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