Crime & Safety
Former Countryside Police Chief Faces Federal Indictment
Feds allege misuse of funds in operation of his aviation nonprofit.
A former west suburban police chief and president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is accused of misappropriating $180,000 intended for a police helicopter program.
Timothy Swanson, the former Countryside chief of police and a former employee of the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, was indicted this week, reports the Chicago Tribune, citing an investigative report alleging widespread misuse of funds and other questionable activities on Swanson's part.
Swanson formed an aviation nonprofit in 2005 using military surplus helicopters on loan to search for criminal fugitives.
Find out what's happening in La Grangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The federal indictment alleges Swanson:
- used his nonprofit's credit cards to pay personal expenses
- put donations and grant money into his own money market fund
- used nonprofit money to buy a side business: Rotors Wings and Aviation
- used the nonprofit's helicopter to service a private contract for traffic control at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet
Find out what's happening in La Grangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
