Nagra, Allen cases go to Joliet police board

The cases of Joliet police officers facing dismissal go to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for a hearing on Monday.

Officers Brian Niagara and Lionel Allen were recommended for discharge in January and have been off the job since.

But city officials decided to keep both police officers on the payroll, and they have continued to collect pay and benefits. Both officers are paid at an annual rate of $106,770.

Nagra in June reached his 20th year anniversary with the police department, which would allow him to begin collecting pension at age 50 instead of at age 60. The benefit could be worth $500,000 to Nagra even if his discharge is approved by the fire and police board.

Board Chairman Herb Lande, contacted late Wednesday afternoon, said he first was learning that the hearings had been put on the Monday agenda. The agenda was posted about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“I have not seen the agenda,” Lande said.

As he had previously said, Lande plans to recuse himself from any proceedings concerning Nagra because of a long-term relationship.

"I have no choice on Nagra.
I have known him for 20 years," he said.

City officials have not disclosed the charges being brought against the two officers, although they could become public Monday.

Assistant City Attorney Chris Regis, who has been handling the cases for the city, could not reached late Wednesday afternoon for comment.

Regis previously said that he had not brought the cases for the two officers to the police board to give their attorney time to prepare their cases.

Tamara Cummings, the attorney representing the two officers, told The Herald-News that she sent an email to Regis in mid-June that she would be ready to for a hearing in July on both cases.

The email was sent the week before Nagra’s 20-year anniversary.

Cummings said the timing was coincidental and that she had never discussed Nagra’s pension with him.