Robbins police chief remains in office despite investigation into ‘unbelievable’ video

CHICAGO (CBS) — There has been another major shakeup at a south suburban police department. Carl Scott, the assistant police chief for the village of Robbins, who was involved in what was described as a troubling incident over the past 15 months, is no longer with the department.

CBS News Chicago has confirmed that the Cook County Sheriff’s Office is under investigation into an incident involving Scott. The incident was captured on video and was apparently so disturbing that when the mayor of Robbins saw it, he wanted to fire the police chief.

The village of Robbins has now begun a search for a new police chief after Scott was relieved of his duties after only 15 months in office.

A spokesman for Mayor Darren Bryant told CBS News Chicago that the former deputy police chief was initially assigned to unpaid administrative duty following an incident two weeks ago involving him and another person at the municipal building.

When the mayor learned of this, he contacted the Cook County Sheriff’s Public Integrity Unit and launched an investigation.

Bryant did not want to wait for the results of this investigation and wanted to fire Scott. But before this step could actually be put into action, the acting boss submitted his resignation.

It is unclear whether the incident was captured by police body cams or surveillance cameras, but a source who has seen the videos told CBS News Chicago, “It’s unbelievable.”

CBS News Chicago was told the mayor saw the video and that prompted his action. The mayor and his spokesman announced the firing of the acting chief at a town hall meeting last Tuesday. At one point, Bryant hinted that the footage could soon be released.

“I want you all to be prepared for what might happen in the next few weeks, because maybe something will be released, maybe it won’t. But it was important that I sit in front of people because I can’t stand up here and pretend nothing is happening. Something is happening,” he said.

This is not the first time the police department has been in controversy. Scott’s predecessor, former police chief David Sheppard, filed a lawsuit in federal court against the municipality and the mayor, claiming the firing was unjustified.

Sheppard said he believes he was fired after filing whistleblower complaints against the mayor, which involved instructions Sheppard said he received regarding the investigation into a stolen car and a fatal crash.

The mayor’s spokesman rejected the allegations at the time, saying that the dismissal of the former police chief was due to the mayor’s desire to pursue a different direction.