Elgin police employee charged with stealing from Explorers program

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- A civilian employee of the Elgin Police Department is charged with stealing from the Explorers program.

James Rog has been charged with theft and official misconduct. Police say he is an animal control officer who's been with the Elgin police for 14 years and involved in the Explorer program for the last decade. He is facing four felony charges.

After allegations came to light that Joe Gliniewicz was stealing from the Fox Lake Explorer's Post, Elgin police say they decided to look at their own program.

In November 2005, Rog spoke to ABC7 about an incident of cat hoarding.

"Most are in good health, some of them do need to see a vet which we are working on right now," Rog said at the time.

Around that time, Rog became involved in the Elgin Police Explorer's post, the mentoring program he's now accused of stealing from.

"To say that I'm disgusted... about a public servant falling short of the expectations that the community has of us, yeah I'm very, very disappointed," said Chief Jeff Swoboda, Elgin Police Dept.

Police say the investigation began in November following the staged suicide of Fox Lake Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz, who allegedly stole from his own Explorer's post.

"My command staff immediately began to talk and say, 'Could this happen here?'" Swoboda said.

Police say Rog funneled explorer money into an unauthorized account, and over three years withdrew more than $6,000. There was no answer at Rog's home Monday night.

Ironically, after Gliniewicz was disgraced, the Chicago Tribune quoted Rog in an article about other Explorer posts.

"People are going to make mistakes," Rog told the Tribune. "People are going to do wrong... you can learn from other people's mistakes."

Police said Rog is no longer working for the Elgin Police Department. The chief was asked if Rog and Gliniewicz knew each other, and he said given their roles in their respective explorer's posts, it's likely their paths did cross.