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There's been a long-standing investigation surrounding the former deputy chief of the Highwood Fire Department, whose suspension dates back to 2011. You can read an older article from 2013 here. Recently, this story has resurfaced as a trial has commenced. Several new articles have surfaced on the topic.
From excerpts provided by the Chicago Tribune:
Lake County prosecutor Scott Turk stated on Monday that the ex-deputy fire chief, Ronald Pieri, was essentially a "disgruntled employee" who wished to maintain a standard 9-to-5 schedule like other workers. Turk outlined in his opening statement during Pieri’s delayed trial that dissatisfaction and greed drove the former official to falsify time records and seek extra compensation for work that could have been completed within his regular 24-hour shift.
Turk emphasized that the state's evidence would demonstrate Pieri's guilt regarding criminal felony charges of official misconduct, theft, and false entry, costing Highwood taxpayers approximately $58,676 in wages, lost work time, and benefits.
In response, Pieri’s defense attorneys highlighted that experts produced three differing sets of calculations regarding Pieri's rightful payment, suggesting the state's data might be unreliable.
Julie Trewarthen, Pieri's defense lawyer, remarked during her brief opening statement, "The entire case rests on this flawed, faulty, and unreliable evidence."
Pieri's trial began on Monday before Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti after Pieri waived his right to a jury trial. He was initially charged in 2011 with falsifying time records and claiming unwarranted compensation between 2006 and 2010. At the time of his arrest, Pieri held the highest rank in the Highwood Fire Department and was married to a sitting alderwoman while also being the son of a former alderman.
The sole witness to testify on Monday was former Highwood Fire Chief Thomas Lovejoy, who led the department from late 2003 until early 2010. Lovejoy mentioned that Pieri, who had previously served as Highwood’s fire chief before Lovejoy’s tenure, was a shift commander overseeing one of the department’s three 24-hour shifts.
Pieri was appointed deputy fire chief in January 2007, receiving a 20% pay raise six months later, making him an exempt employee ineligible for overtime pay. Despite city policy requiring the fire chief's approval for time sheets, Turk presented examples of time forms submitted by Pieri without such approval.
"Ron Pieri frequently entered and submitted his own time sheets to the city," Lovejoy confirmed.
"So there were forms you didn't see?" Turk inquired.
"Very often," Lovejoy replied.
The most severe charge of theft involving over $100,000 was dropped by the state's attorney. Pieri still faces potential prison time and loss of his firefighter’s pension due to a possible felony conviction tied to his employment.
Highwood placed Pieri on paid administrative leave in 2011 pending an internal investigation into the alleged misconduct. He continued to receive his $66,000 annual salary until two years ago when former Highwood City Manager Scott Hartman filed a formal complaint with the city’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Following this, the board voted 2-1 to suspend Pieri without pay.
Hartman’s complaint alleged that Pieri "falsely claimed and/or reported compensation time for work he could have performed, at least partially, during his regular shift." It further alleged that his actions cost city taxpayers approximately $50,000 since 2007.
The Highwood fire and police board awaits the criminal case outcome before deciding on Pieri’s employment reinstatement. They had hired the McGrath Consulting Group to examine Pieri's payment and whether his role fell under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but eventually chose not to apply the study's results.
Pieri’s defense team argues that he was underpaid for his work hours, pointing fingers at the city’s poor record-keeping for discrepancies. The trial is expected to continue Tuesday with more witnesses.
Further excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
On the second day of Pieri’s trial, several colleagues testified about his absences, early departures, and inconsistencies in his timecards. One notable witness was Jason Noga, a firefighter and paramedic assigned to the red shift Pieri supervised around 2006 and again in 2010. Noga admitted to covering for Pieri’s absences and entering details into the department’s computerized scheduling system. Around 2008 or 2009, he was tasked by Battalion Chief David Mohry to review Pieri's timecards, finding numerous instances where time off wasn't properly deducted.
Defense lawyer Julie Trevarthen cross-examined former Fire Chief Thomas Lovejoy about an outstanding mid-2007 performance evaluation praising Pieri's work as "excellent" and exceeding expectations. Lovejoy revealed that he was instructed by the city manager to give Pieri a $20,000 raise, prompting him to draft a supportive memo.
Lovejoy admitted feeling pressured by city officials to promote Pieri to deputy fire chief, agreeing only if Pieri retained his responsibilities as a shift commander. Lovejoy clarified that a purely administrative deputy chief role wouldn’t suit Highwood’s needs.
Pieri became the top-ranking member of the department in early 2010 when Highwood abolished the chief’s position. The trial is scheduled to continue on Wednesday and Thursday.
Another excerpt from the Chicago Tribune:
Highland Park economist Benjamin Wilner testified on the fourth day of Pieri’s trial, highlighting significant fluctuations in the numbers used by the prosecution to press charges, questioning their reliability.
"If numbers change so drastically nearly ten years after they were recorded, it raises concerns about the data's reliability," Wilner stated. His defense testimony criticized the prosecution's reliance on comparing Pieri’s time cards with FIREHOUSE software logs, failing to account for administrative duties.
Wilner also criticized the prosecution’s assumption that any discrepancy equates to fraud. Before the defense began its case, Trevarthen requested a ruling in favor of her client, arguing the state hadn't proven Pieri’s fraud beyond a reasonable doubt. Judge Rossetti rejected the motion, citing Lovejoy's testimony affirming Pieri's continued shift responsibilities despite his title change.
The trial resumes later today.
Another Chicago Tribune report:
Fraud analyst Susannah Huber detailed her findings over 3.5 hours on the third day of Pieri’s trial, concluding Pieri defrauded taxpayers of over $58,000. Huber’s calculations revealed discrepancies between Pieri's time cards and FIREHOUSE data. When questioned, she insisted her analysis indicated fraud.
However, defense attorney Trevarthen pointed out that a McGrath Consulting Group audit found Pieri’s role ambiguous due to his dual roles as administrator and firefighter, concluding no fraud occurred. Trevarthen questioned Huber’s methodology, noting she treated Pieri as a non-exempt employee.
Lovejoy testified earlier that Mayor Vincent Donofrio and Pieri’s father, Alderman Walter Pieri, pressured him to appoint Pieri deputy chief, with the understanding Pieri would remain a shift commander.