Tinley Park police union votes no confidence in police chief
All Tinley Park officers in the union, except officers on probation, signed the document alleging the department has experienced a decline in morale, disregard for staff concerns, a lack of strategic and overall vision, inadequate or absent decisions, operational uncertainty and reduced efficiency due to Tilton's leadership, according to union representative Ray Violetto, a retired detective.
The union also said Tilton, who was hired in 2021, has contributed to the growing damage of the department's public image and internal credibility, citing this as one of the most concerning issues, according to the union statement.
Violetto said part of the reason so many officers voted no confidence was due to the lack of communication from Tilton. He said Tilton canceled a meeting between the department and officers after the no-confidence vote was publicly announced and said there are no staff meetings with lower level supervisors, which can lead to lack of coordination and even understaffing for events.
Violetto said at the 2023 Armed Forces Carnival, which was shut down after a flash mob of over 400 teenagers, officers were short staffed, denied bathroom and hydration breaks and ignored when they warned commanding staff about the oncoming teens.
'The officers felt they've made every effort to bring forward all these discrepancies that are occurring, which are falling on deaf ears,' Violetto said.
Tinley Park Village Trustee Kenneth Shaw, during an Aug. 6 Village Board meeting, called the statement 'the second stunt' he's seen recently from the union and said Village Manager Pat Carr's statement defending Tilton 'fell on deaf ears.'
Village officials released a statement shortly after the meeting declaring support for Tilton, citing his 40 years of law enforcement experience, and calling the vote 'unfounded.'
Officials commended Tilton for his efforts to bring accountability to the department and progress in 'attempting to fix bad and costly practices that have been going on for decades.'
When asked to expand upon these issues, Carr said the village will not comment beyond the released statement.
The statement also argued village officials have been attempting to negotiate a new contract with the union for 15 months, even offering them the highest four-year pay increase in department history, according to Carr. But officials said the union's 'unwillingness to compromise' has barred progress, and both parties await dates for interest arbitration.
Tinley Park officials initiated an independent audit in 2024 to address concerns about the cost of police overtime and conducted an internal review of the department's structure in 2025, citing a lack in frontline supervision, which they said contributed to a lack of cohesion within the department and hindered effective management, according to the statement.
'It is unfortunate the Union is attempting to resolve this publicly,' Carr said in the statement. 'These expressions of frustration are heard; we share in this sentiment. Negotiations always stir up emotions, but it is important to look past them to resolve the underlying issues.''
Violetto called the village's statement misleading because he said the vote of no confidence has been 'festering' in the department for much longer than the contract issues.
He also said he would like to see more information on the specific accountability issues village officials cited, saying that the department already delivers a weekly report to the village trustees, among other accountability reports.
Violetto called Shaw's comment 'uncalled for,' saying that neither Shaw nor any of the other trustees had read the full document explaining the no confidence vote at the time. Violetto handed them the document at the meeting, he said.
The village's response left union officers 'disenchanted,' Violetto said.
'They have a very high frustration level, and they just want to be heard, and they want accountability by the people who are accountable,' Violetto said.
Violetto said the union would like to sit down and discuss the issues with the village and department to move the efforts in a positive direction.
Carr's statement said Tinley Park remains committed to resolving the contract issues 'in a manner that
supports the dedicated men and women of the Tinley Park Police Department while restoring fiscal and operational integrity.'
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