DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Lay announced on Wednesday, Nov. 7 that a former civilian employee at the Villa Park Police Department had been charged with two counts of Official Misconduct (Class 3 Felony), one count of Theft of Government Property (Class 4 Felony), one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony) and one count of Misdemeanor Theft.
On Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, a $10,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrant was issued for John Simons, 48, of 635 N. Edgewood Avenue, Lombard. Yesterday afternoon, Simon turned himself in to authorities at the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, posted the necessary $1,000 and was released from custody.
It is alleged that on October 10, 2018, Simons stole hydrocodone pills from the evidence vault of the Villa Park Police Department. Upon learning of the alleged theft, the Villa Park Police Department immediately contacted the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. Simons has since resigned from his position with the police department.
“I would like to commend Chief Lay and his administration, particularly Deputy Chief William Lyons, for uncovering this alleged theft and for immediately bringing this matter to our attention,” Berlin said. “There is no room for the type of behavior alleged in this case at any work place let alone a police department whose primary mission is to protect and serve the public.”
“I am very disappointed that an employee of our department was allegedly involved in activity that lead to these charges,” Lay said. “I am thankful that members of our department discovered potential wrongdoing on the part of the employee, swiftly initiated an investigation and brought the information to the attention of the DuPage County State’s Attorneys’ office for further investigation.”
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.
