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Jan. 28, 2020 – Eric Lurry Jr., 37, of Joliet arrested in narcotics investigation by Joliet police.
Jan. 29 – Lurry dies. Joliet police issue statement describing circumstances of arrest and death. Investigation launched by Will-Grundy Counties Major Crimes Task Force.
June 24 – Mayor Bob O’Dekirk sends letter signed by three City Council members to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asking for investigation into Lurry case as police video of arrest begins to circulate.
June 30-July 1 – Joliet police show video of Lurry arrest to selected community leaders and media in anticipation of video appearing of video being leaked to media.
July 1 – Joliet police Sgt. Javier Esqueda appears in CBS Chicago TV news story sharing video of Lurry arrest.
July 2 – Will County State’s Attorney’s Office releases finding of no wrongdoing by police in Lurry death, which it calls an “accident due to heroin, fentanyl and cocaine intoxication due to Mr. Lurry ingesting large quantities of the narcotics as depicted in the squad car video.”
July 3 – Dozens demonstrate outside police station in first public protest over Lurry death.
July 6 – Esqueda put on desk duty as Joliet police conduct investigation into an unauthorized access and release of police video.
July 7 – Interim City Manager Steve Jones submits resignation letter citing “political turmoil and false narratives” surrounding city issues including the Lurry case.
July 10 – Police meet with Lurry family to show video ahead of release of video of Eric Lurry arrest to the general public.
July 21 – City Attorney Sabrina Spano tells City Council that she has been supplying information to Illinois Attorney General’s Office concerning Lurry case since July 7.
Aug. 3 – Nicole Lurry, widow of Eric Lurry, files lawsuit against city of Joliet and four officers involved in her husband’s arrest – Sgt. Douglas May, Officer Andrew McCue, Officer Jose Tellez and Lt. Jeremy Harrison.
Aug. 6 – About 20 people propose police reforms including body cameras and citizens review board at Joliet City Council committee meeting.
Dec. 14 – Nicole Lurry files petitions to run for City Council but does not gain seat in April election.
Dec. 29 – Indictment filed in Kendall County charges Sgt. Esqueda with four counts of official misconduct.
Jan. 8, 2021 – Police Chief Al Roechner, facing pressure to resign, files retirement papers on same day City Council agrees to hire James Capparelli as new city manager.
Jan. 11 – City announces promotion of Lt. Dawn Malec to interim police chief. She would later be made permanent police chief.
Jan. 13 – Chief Malec announces shake-up in police command staff as she replaces three of four deputy chiefs.
Jan. 28 – Sgt. Doug May, one of the officers involved in Lurry arrest, suspended for seven days because he “used disrespectful language, slapped, and made other contact” with Lurry, according to his suspension notice.
March 26 – Joliet police arrest Officer Andrew McCue, one of four officers involved in Lurry arrest, on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge involving an off-duty incident.
April 14 – Officer Jose Tellez suspended for six days because he “stopped the recording of the in-squad video system” during Lurry arrest, according to suspension notice.
May 27 – City Manager James Capparelli confirms that he has hired Westmont attorney Sean Connolly to conduct an independent investigation into the Lurry case. Connolly is the second outside lawyer to look into the case. Joliet in 2020 hired the firm Ottoson, DiNalfo, Hasenbalg & Castaldo to do the internal investigation that otherwise would be done by the police department.
July 20 – Chief Malec confirms that she has recommended termination for Officer Andrew McCue.
Sept. 8 – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced investigation into patterns and practices of Joliet Police Department stemming from June 24, 2020 letter from mayor asking for investigation.