A majority of officers and management personnel i Dolton Police have issued a “vote of no confidence” in newly appointed Chief Lewis Lacey, according to a letter obtained by NBC Chicago’s Regina Waldroup. The vote was 33 to 2.
In the letter, which was sent to Mayor Tiffany Henyard and the village board of trustees, Dolton police officers expressed their “dissatisfaction with the leadership” of Lacey.
Lacey, the former deputy police chief, was recently placed on administrative duty by administrators and then fired for insubordination. Henyard later appointed Lacey as the department’s new leader, three village trustees told Waldroup Thursday.
Lacey had not yet been sworn in as of Saturday.
Henyard’s office did not respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.
Village trustees said the designation was illegal and were consulting with attorneys.
Lacey was was fired last week after being placed on leave. After he continued to show up for work, he was fired by the board, according to village officials.
The former deputy chief was indicted this week on bankruptcy fraud charges, with prosecutors claiming he had hidden assets and income from creditors and taken steps to prevent payment of a lawsuit.
He was charged with bankruptcy fraud, false information and declarations in a bankruptcy case and perjury.
Lacey appeared in court Thursday, where his attorney told reporters his client is “not guilty” of the charges.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz ordered him to surrender his work weapon as well as two other weapons he keeps at his home. He must also surrender his firearms identification card.
Previous Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s investigation into Dolton’s spending habits also involved Lacey and Henyard. The investigation found that the village’s general fund, which had a multimillion-dollar surplus earlier in the decade, is now more than $3.6 million in debt.
The investigation also found that police spending increased by 21%, with two officers receiving more money in overtime than they received in regular pay, including Lacey.
Eight village employees were recently laid off, according to village officials. Officials are also trying to implement a hiring freeze.