TIFFANY HENYARD’S RUN AMOK
LEWIS LACY (Right) stood before a federal judge this morning. The judge ordered him to surrender all his firearms.
BY RUTHIE DITUCCI
In Dolton, Illinois, a significant power struggle has emerged, leading to an emergency meeting where Mayor Tiffany Henyard instructed officers to follow orders and she re-appointed police chief, Lewis Lacey. Today, he stood before a federal judge in relation to the federal bankruptcy charges he’s facing, and the federal judge ordered him to surrender his service revolver and his private weapons as well.
You have to wonder why Henyard would risk complicating matters for herself with the Town Board by re-installing someone being investigated for filing for bankruptcy 8 times. This time, Lacey’s been federally charged. Henyard still thinks she’s in control of Dolton and has not come to terms with the harsh reality that surrounds her.
This directive came despite trustees voting to place Lacey on leave due to the federal bankruptcy fraud charge and allegations of improperly receiving $200,000 in overtime pay.
Village administrator Keith Freeman, a former close ally of Henyard, sent an email the the police stating that Lacey was no longer employed by the village and should not enter employee-only areas without an escort.
Freeman, who has also faced bankruptcy fraud charges, has recently cooperated with trustees investigating Henyard’s leadership and spending.
During the meeting, Henyard attempted to fire Freeman, but the motion was met with silence from the trustees. The tension between Henyard and the trustees has led to a halt in village credit card spending and increased scrutiny from the Illinois Comptroller’s office and the FBI.
Residents of Dolton have expressed frustration with the ongoing dysfunction, calling for accountability and transparency in the village’s leadership.
