HARVEY, Ill. (AP) — A Chicago police lieutenant and former state lawmaker named to lead the Harvey Police Department was placed on leave last week after just eight months on the job.
Police Chief Eddie Winters was placed on leave, pending his removal from office, according to T he Daily Southtown, which cited a memo Mayor Christopher Clark sent city employees last week.
Clark declined to comment on his reasoning until he could discuss the matter with the City Council, which was set to meet Monday.
Winters declined to discuss details, telling WBBM-TV it was “totally unexpected.”
Winters, a Chicago resident who didn’t have ties to Harvey before he took the job, said he saw a need in the Chicago suburb.
“I thought I was a good fit for it and still do,” he told the newspaper.
He made department changes, including reassigning its five deputy chief and working on upgrading outdated technology. His tenure included part of a year that saw a surge in homicides.
Former Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins was expected to serve as acting police chief during Winters’ absence.
