Story posted Thursday, February 4, 2010
Felony Charges Against Ex-Niles Cop
Former Niles police officer William Christie, 48, was charged with one count of felony theft and one count of felony official misconduct for allegedly taking over $1,700 from the room of a man who was found dead in the Niles YMCA last November.
Christie, a 25-year veteran of the Niles force who was still an officer at the time of the alleged theft, surrendered to Niles police today (Thursday) at the Cook County courthouse in Skokie where he was charged by the Cook County State's Attorney. He appeared at a bond hearing where his bail was set at $50,000 ($5,000 cash) and was released on bail.
"I want the people of Niles to know that any and all complaints (of police misconduct) will be investigated," said Niles Police Chief Dean Strzelecki. "We take them seriously, will investigate them thoroughly and will prosecute if we find evidence of a criminal act."
According to a press release issued by Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez today, Christie responded to the YMCA to process the room in the normal course of the death investigation.
YMCA officials became suspicious after Christie sealed the room and left instructions that no one enter but then allegedly made several trips in and out of the room over the next few days himself.
After being contacted by the YMCA, Niles police placed hidden surveillance cameras in the room and recorded Christie allegedly placing the dead man's money into a cardboard box and removing it from the room, prosecutors said.
The following day surveillance cameras at Christie's credit union recorded him allegedly carrying a similar cardboard box and making a deposit of $500 in coins.
After the alleged theft, prosecutors said Christie also contacted the dead man's sister and only living relative who lives out of state, identifying himself as a Niles police officer and offering to clean the room out for her.
Christie then sent the sister $274 along with a note saying that was all the money recovered from the room, according to prosecutors. Christie is alleged to have stolen a total of $1,700.
As previously reported in the Niles Journal, last November the Niles Police and Fire Pension Board scheduled a hearing to consider dismissal of Christie for a complaint of misconduct relating to this incident.
The day of the hearing Christie tendered his resignation from the Niles force. At the time, village officials confirmed they had been in contact with the State's Attorney's Office but would not provide any details.
Last November, Village Manager George Van Geem also confirmed that Christie was given a 30-day suspension earlier in his career but would not say why.
With 25 years on the job Christie is entitled to 62.5% of his final pay. A felony conviction would disqualify Christie from receiving further pension payments.
Christie's next court date is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26.
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