Update on Lawless Wilmette Officials
The Pioneer Press is reporting that Wilmette District 39 school board member, Greg C. Polan, was removed from his home in handcuffs on Friday, June 9, 2006, following an incident where Polan allegedly struck an off-duty police officer following a police order to stop his 2006 Bentley automobile. According to the article Polan was charged with disobeying a police officer, failing to give aid and information at the scene of an accident, and reckless driving. Polan's company, Alltown Bus Service, provides transportation to thousands of school children daily.
According to the Wilmette Life, Polan's lawyer said "Mr. Polan has been a valued public servant on the (Wilmette) School Board and parents in the community trust him and his company to transport thousands of children to school every day, and nothing about this incident in any way should even raise a question . . ."
Less trusting parents might want to head over to the Skokie Courthouse by 10:30 am on July 13, when Polan is scheduled to appear, to monitor this case. Further investigation has revealed that since cases to be heard are posted outside the courtrooms near the doors, all parents need to do is check cases which are listed.
No one has yet called for Polan's resignation.
Interested in this story? Wilmette's own Backyard Conservative weighs in here, and here. The Wilmette Life article was found here at the time of the incident, but now (July 5) appears to be a dead link. The June 12, 2006 Evanston Police Department Daily Crime Bulletin can be found at Evanston Police Reports. (scroll down--its on page 6.)
An earlier Sun-Times story (but not about this incident) is here.
posted by Publia at 9:41 AM
5 Comments:
Super color scheme, I like it! Good job. Go on.
»
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Polan walked into court with three attorneys the judge took a recess and met the the lead attorney in his private chamber, and then came back in the court room and had the trial. The judge then heard the evidence (police officer's word against Polan's word) and found Polan not guilty on all accounts. It was interesting that the judge can meet with attorneys in private minutes before a case. Polan never testified. And the judge gave no reason for his ruling. The officer was professional and believable even after being cross examined by three high paid lawyers. I wonder if the judge lives in Wilmette?
Thanks Anonymous for you comments on the case. Those 3 high paid lawyers must have figured that waiving a jury trial would benefit their client! I would imagine that the prosecutor was also in the judge's chamber, although you may have not seen evidence of that. Basically, it's hard to convict a person of a crime under our law--the evidence of fuilt has to be beyond a reasonable doubt, and the doubt is for the judge (or the jury, if there is one) to decide.
It's amazing how in our country, if you go to court for a minor traffic offense you'll almost certainly have to pay (with all other consequences like insurance premiums) if the officer is there. But if you hit an officer you walk free. Maybe that's what I'll do next time I get pulled over. Oh, wait, I don't have 3 highly paid lawyers!! Bummer....
Post a Comment
<< Home