Fired Joliet Police Chief Explains Her Termination

Joliet Police Chief Dawn Malec is out of a job. The city announced her firing yesterday, but didn’t give a reason. Malec claims she was terminated due to insubordination. She said the decision was made after she had tried to schedule an administrative hearing for a police officer who leaked a video of last year’s controversial arrest of Eric Lurry, who later died. Malec became the first woman to lead the Joliet police department when she was appointed police chief in February. Deputy Chief Robert Brown has been appointed interim police chief.

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Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli announces Police Chief Dawn Malec’s employment with the Joliet Police Department has ended effective immediately. The City of Joliet thanks former Chief Malec for her years of dedicated service to the Joliet community and wishes her will well in her future endeavors. Joliet City Manager has selected current Deputy Chief Robert Brown to serve as Acting Police Chief for the Joliet Police Department until a permanent Police Chief has been selected.

Malec was officially named as the permanent Police Chief for the City of Joliet in February of this year. Malec was the first woman to ever hold the chief position in the Joliet Police Department. She began her career with the Joliet Police Department in 1994 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks to sergeant in 2009 and lieutenant in 2014.