Arbitrator reinstates Elgin cop Jason Lentz, fired over Ferguson & Michael Brown comments

An arbitrator has ruled that the city of Elgin did not have just cause to fire Elgin Police Officer Jason Lentz, but did have cause to suspend him for six months after Lentz didn't follow orders related to Facebook posts.

The posts were made in August 2014 related to incidents in Ferguson, Missouri.

According to Aaron Wolff's Sept. 30 decision, Lentz is to be reinstated with back pay, full seniority, pension, and all other contract benefits to which he would have been entitled but for six months of time he was off, which will be considered suspension without back pay.

"The arbitrator didn't find that (Lentz) shouldn't have been disciplined, but that six months without pay is what that discipline should be," Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said Friday night.

Swoboda said he had already had an initial discussion Friday with representatives of Policemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 54 which filed the grievance on Lentz's behalf. He said he would study the ruling over the weekend and meet with union members and with Elgin City Manager Sean Stegall and Corporate Counsel William Cogley Monday about the next steps to be taken in the matter.

Swoboda also noted that Mayor Dave Kaptain and City Council had been notified of the findings late Friday afternoon. Kaptain, Stegall and Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal could not be reached for comment Friday night.

In September 2014, the Elgin Police Department fired Lentz after Lentz had made remarks on his Facebook page. He had been on leave Aug. 21, 2014 after he made a comment in response to a news story about slain Ferguson teen Michael Brown purportedly stealing cigars.

The arbitration document recounts Lentz posted that month, "Hmmm … innocent victim my ass. Did society a favor." After being called out by a ranking officer about the post, Lentz eventually changed his comment to just say, "Hmmm."

The document said that Lentz also made a post with a photo of a police officer and a man who are making symbols with their fingers. Lentz's post read "This is Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson. He is also in the Chicago Tribune hugging a protester...appears to be the enemy within," according to the document.

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