CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Chicago police sergeant, who created and led a unit investigating the illegal sale of guns and drugs on the internet, alleges in a lawsuit he faced retaliation for reporting alleged misconduct by a superior.
"Chicago Police Officer Sergeant Marc Vanek was punished for reporting misconduct," said Bob Fioretti, is one of the attorneys representing the sergeant.
Here’s a portion of Vanek’s recorded statement played during a news conference:
"Last year, I reported Commander Jason Brown for misuse of police resources when he ordered police officers to guard his home and neighborhood during the riots that left many neighborhoods destroyed. Commander Brown then removed me from the Internet Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) that I created and supervised to have me transferred to the 11th District."
INET is an elite unit that helped the Chicago Police Department gain national attention by confiscating guns and illegal narcotics off the streets of Chicago.
Richard Linden is another one of his attorneys.
"They reassigned him to Lawndale, which is one of the worst police districts, working at midnight; put him in a car all by himself," he said.
Additionally, Vanel has been prevented from bidding out of the 11th District or to another shift, because he is not assigned, merely detailed to the 11th District.
According to the lawsuit, also involved in permitting and/or facilitating the acts of retaliation are Superintendent David O’Neil Brown, First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter, Commander Thomas Mills (ret.), Lt. James Triantafillo, and Chief of the Bureau of Counterterrorism Jose M. Tirado (ret.).
Sergeant Vanek said Commander Brown has been allowed a free hand to punish him and ruin his reputation. Vanek has been a cop for 21 years.
"Commander Brown has not been punished or reprimanded for misuse of police resources. He has been allowed a free hand to punish me and ruin my reputation. I am filing this lawsuit, because those above the rank and file continue the 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude and try to silence those who voice concerns," Vanek said.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act, violations of free speech protection and due process, and defamation.
Sgt. Vanek is currently on medical leave.
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