A police sergeant in suburban Blue Island is suing city officials and two state representatives, alleging they engineered his suspension on trumped-up grounds, because his investigation into a boy’s hit-and-run death led to a suspect with Democratic Party ties whom they wished to protect.
Ismael Haro filed suit June 24 in Cook County Circuit Court against former Blue Island Public Safety Director John Rita Jr. and his brother, State Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita, D-Blue Island. Also being sued are Blue Island's former city attorney ShawnTe Raines and her husband, State Rep. Emanuel C. "Chris" Welch, a Democrat from suburban Westchester.
Haro said State Rep. Rita has been called the “boss” of Blue Island, as he allegedly "calls the shots" in city government.
State Reps. Chris Welch, left, and Robert "Bob" Rita
Haro said he took over in 2009 the dormant investigation into the 2005 death of 11-year-old Robbie Silva, who was hit and killed by a truck while sledding. The driver left the scene and was not caught. Haro said he came to suspect the driver was Vincent Kolodzieg, who was the boyfriend of Jennifer Riley, according to the suit.
Riley is the sister-in-law of Edward “Eddie” Byrnes, who was the owner of E&B Auto, which had the exclusive towing contract for more than 20 years for Blue Island police, the suit said. Haro said Brynes backed Bob Rita in his campaigns, as did Deputy Police Chief Michael Cornell, who was the previous detective on the Silva case. Haro alleged Cornell falsified a report and said he believes Cornell has also been involved with Riley.
As an indication Kolodzieg allegedly had pull at City Hall, Haro said he found 12 parking tickets issued to Kolodzieg between 2003 and 2005, which had all been voided by an unknown person in the police department. Haro also claimed a traffic ticket for one of Riley's children was dropped as a favor.
The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force became involved with Haro in the reinvestigation. The pickup truck believed to have hit Robbie Silva was scrapped or crushed, with the help of Byrnes towing company, right before the task force entered the case, Haro alleged. Further, Byrnes allegedly complained to Cornell about the probe and that people were being questioned.
Haro said he told the Cook County State's Attorney's Office's Public Corruption Unit he found "substantial deficiencies" in Cornell's handling of the Silva case and alleged Cornell falsified a report.
According to Haro, Cornell had been told to not involve himself in the Silva investigation, but nonetheless allegedly met with witnesses before and after they were interviewed by investigators. Cornell also tried to undermine the probe by attempting to assign detective Frank Podbielniak, who was a friend of Bob Rita, to the case, Haro alleged. Rita helped Podbielniak when Podbielniak ran for Posen mayor. Cornell also allegedly hushed up the domestic battery arrest of John Rita's son, Haro said.
Haro alleged he was "subjected to years of retaliation by defendants and others," because he dug into the Silva case and sought charges against Cornell. The alleged retaliation included unfounded internal investigations into him and suspending him on fabricated charges, all in an effort to kick him off the force.
Haro wants back and front pay for the time he was suspended, as well as damages for the distress allegedly inflicted on him. He is represented by Kurtz Law Offices, of suburban Hinsdale.
Haro has sued before in connection with the Silva matter. In 2014, he filed a whistleblower suit against the city, Cornell and Blue Island Police Commander Kevin Sisk. That case remains pending.
The mother of Robbie Silva also sued Blue Island, Cornell and Sisk. The city and Cornell agreed to a settlement in January 2019, with Sisk having been dropped from the suit the month before.
Blue Island, Cornell and Sisk have been represented in Haro's first suit and the Silva action by Del Galdo Law Group, of Berwyn and Hinshaw & Culbertson, of Chicago.
John Rita Jr. was removed as Blue Island's director of public safety, overseeing the city's fire department, police department and 911 call center, in 2018. Raines was also removed as the city attorney by Bule Island Mayor Domingo Vargas.
State Reps. Rita and Welch, and attorney Raines, did not reply to emails from The Cook County Record seeking comment.