Dixmoor village board meeting gets heated over police officer suspension, mayor overpayment
DIXMOOR, Ill. (WLS) -- The Dixmoor village trustees held a heated meeting Thursday night to address charges against a police officer and the overpayment of their mayor.
Every seat was taken at Dixmoor Village Hall for the meeting, and trustees shouted at each other.
The meeting came a week after Dixmoor Police Commander Ronald Burge, Jr., son of police Chief Ronald Burge, Sr., was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct in connection with the arrest of a 66-year-old woman.
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The board voted to suspend Burge, Jr. with pay pending a disciplinary hearing.
"There's still an ongoing investigation into this matter. I cannot speak of it," said Chief Burge.
Also under fire is Mayor Yvonne Davis, who trustees say was overpaid nearly $64,000 over two years and said nothing.
Last week the mayor acknowledged a "payroll error" and promised to reimburse the village by foregoing pay for the rest of her term.
"I have been very open and honest with my constituents. I don't have anything to hide. I don't have access to payroll," Mayor Davis said.
Adding to the turmoil is a lawsuit filed this week by two trustees, Fitzgerald Roberts and Toni Mitchell. They are suing the village and Chief Burge, alleging a pattern of harassment by police after they called for an investigation into village finances.
The village treasurer said the mayor has essentially paid back about $10,000, with a little more than 50-thousand dollars still owed.
