Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Fires Police Chief for Blowing the Whistle on Illegal and Unethical Behavior

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Fires Police Chief for Blowing the Whistle on Illegal and Unethical Behavior

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Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Fires Police Chief for Blowing the Whistle on Illegal and Unethical Behavior (Robbins, IL) — Mayor Darren Bryant fired Robbins Chief of Police, David Sheppard after Sheppard repeatedly questioned behavior coming from the Mayor’s office. Chief Sheppard’s termination comes after he refused to sign an agreement to resign earlier this week. Neither the resignation agreement nor the subsequent termination letter included any reasoning for Chief Sheppard’s dismissal.

Some of the documented behavior that Sheppard questioned Mayor Bryant about included Bryant’s purported requests to break chain-of-custody rules by moving a vehicle involved in the tragic February car accident that took the life of beloved grandfather Donald Carter Sr. Even after being told that moving the vehicle could result in evidentiary chain-of-custody issues, as well as potentially corrupt the evidence, Mayor Bryant continued to request the vehicle’s removal even after being advised.

Mayor Bryant also, on a separate occasion, requested that an individual be hired by the department. After apparent red flags on the individual’s background check came back, Mayor Bryant continued to request that he be hired, disregarding the red flags and dismissing Sheppard concerns.

“Since becoming Chief of Police in Robbins, I have put in 150%,” said David Sheppard. “I am disappointed that the mayor has unilaterally decided to sever my ties with the Village. I have worked hard to increase public safety in the Village of Robbins and was hoping to continue my journey with the Robbins Police Department. The village has a special place in my heart, and I am proud to have served the incredible citizens of a wonderful community.”

Since being hired as Robbins’ Chief of Police in October of 2021, Sheppard has helped Robbins see a 90% decrease in homicides and a decrease in violent crime in over 20 categories. He helped increase the number of officers from a low of 11 officers to 46 officers. Chief Sheppard also helped negotiate an increase in police officer salaries after a mass walk-off days before Sheppard was sworn in. Immediately after taking his position as Chief of Police, David Sheppard even spent over $6,000 of his personal funds to help equip officers with necessary safety equipment that the Village of Robbins was unable to provide.

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Fires Police Chief for Blowing the Whistle on Illegal and Unethical Behavior

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  1. Robbins IL always had a bad smell about it. Glad that it’s outside of beautiful Chicago.