Joliet Cop Being Fired Had 'Unsafe' Driving Record: 2 New Lawsuits
JOLIET — On Friday, Joliet Patch broke the news that a Plainfield woman and a Villa Park man in their mid-20s just filed separate civil lawsuits against the city of Joliet and Joliet Police Officer Alfonso Sanchez after they were hospitalized and seriously injured when a fleeing criminal suspect plowed into vehicle on Jan. 7 near the on-ramp to Interstate 55 and Plainfield Road.
The lawsuits by driver Kasey Artrip and passenger Abigail Barrow also draw attention to the driving record exhibited by Officer Sanchez before and after he was hired by the Joliet Police Department in June 2022. One of the counts outlined in this week’s civil lawsuits against Joliet and Officer Sanchez is a negligence count regarding supervision, training and retention.
“Defendant, city of Joliet knew or should have known that defendant, Sanchez, had a history of unsafe driving, driving without a valid license, and otherwise engaged in unsafe driving practices,” declared Artrip’s lawyer Steven Seidman of Chicago’s Seidman Margulis & Fairman law. Barrow is being represented by the Law Offices Of Paul Jacobs in Chicago.
Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
75-Day Work Suspension Preceded Termination
Although Sanchez was given a 75-day unpaid work suspension by Police Chief Bill Evans for his role in the Jan. 7 crash, injuring the two innocent motorists, it now turns out that Evans finally had enough of Sanchez. The young officer, who marked his two-year anniversary on the force in June, was notified in late October that his days on the Joliet Police Department are over. He was served with his notice of termination.
Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
However, the termination has not taken effect, yet.
Sanchez can still appeal his recommended firing for a hearing in front of the Joliet Police and Fire Board. The hearing has not been scheduled, therefore, Sanchez remains on Joliet’s payroll even though he is no longer working or patrolling the city’s streets.
Three Separate Traffic Infractions For Sanchez In 2020-2023
This week’s lawsuits revealed that in 2020, two years before he became a Joliet officer, Sanchez pleaded guilty to speeding 21 to 25 mph over the speed limit. In July 2023, one year after he joined the Joliet police, Sanchez was cited for driving too fast for conditions and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for operating an uninsured vehicle. Also in July 2023, Sanchez was cited in Kendall County with operating a motorcycle without evidence of registration, insurance and or classification, in excess of the speed limit.
In June, Joliet Patch reported that Sanchez received three days of unpaid suspension back in September 2023 as a result of his off-duty conduct while riding the motorcycle in rural Kendall County from last year.
On Sept. 21, 2023, Joliet Police Sgt. Brian Prochaska outlined in his internal affairs complaint that on July 8, 2023, at approximately 5:45 p.m., “you operated a motorcycle on Route 47 near Newark Road without registration, insurance, and motorcycle license classification. Additionally, you operated the motorcycle in excess of the applicable speed limit and failed to yield to an emergency vehicle.”
However, the allegation that Sanchez failed to yield to an emergency vehicle was found to be unsustained, according to Sgt. Prochaska’s investigation.
According to this week’s lawsuits in Will County, as of Jan. 7, “defendant Sanchez did not possess a valid Illinois driver’s license that was not expired, suspended and or revoked. Defendant Sanchez continued to operate a vehicle as part of his role as officer for defendant, city of Joliet, in spite of Sanchez not possessing a valid driver’s license that was not expired, suspended or revoked.”
According to Kasey Artrip’s lawsuit, “Despite knowledge of these prior complaints and findings against Defendant Sanchez, the defendant city of Joliet failed to take appropriate disciplinary action against Sanchez including but not limited to suspension, retraining or termination.
“Pleading in the alternative, defendant city of Joliet, failed to conduct an appropriate background check and or investigation into Sanchez’s driving history and licensure status so as to discover his prior 2020 and 2023 traffic-related charges and convictions and suspension and or revocation of Sanchez’s licensure.”
In June, Joliet Patch broke the news about Officer Sanchez’s severe discipline for the Jan. 7 collision near the mall.
“At the time when Officer Sanchez engaged in the January 7th pursuit of the fleeing vehicle of Mohammad Nakhleh, other on-duty JPD officers had received notice over dispatch that the pursuit was being terminated, is that correct?” Joliet Patch inquired last summer.
“Yes, it is believed that notice had been given to terminate the pursuit,” Joliet Police Sgt. English responded. “Officer Sanchez was found to have a license that was not valid at the time of the incident. Officer Sanchez received a 75-day suspension without pay following an administrative review, and this admonishment will remain in effect.”
One of the lawyers told Joliet Patch on Friday that the lawsuit plaintiffs went to the Louis Joliet Mall to see a movie on Jan. 7, and they were on their way home, preparing to take Interstate 55, when the fleeing criminal suspect crashed into them as Officer Sanchez was in hot pursuit despite receiving an order over the police radio from Sgt. Bill Otis several minutes earlier to terminate the pursuit, court records show.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Joliet Cop With Revoked License Sued By 2 Hurt In Crash Near Mall
75-Day Unpaid Suspension For Joliet Cop In High-Speed Chase, Crash
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.