Bob O’Dekirk’s public record and a possible 2027 mayoral run

By JolietVotes | Community guides

Sources checked November 5, 2026.

Discussion of a possible return to City Hall has brought renewed attention to former Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk’s record. WJOL has reported speculation about a 2027 run. Screenshots supplied to JolietVotes show comments attributed to Rosa Hernandez defending him and saying he “might be running again.” [1, 5]

This guide reviews those statements alongside older reporting and public records. The history includes disputed force allegations, an Illinois State Police investigation that ended without criminal charges against O’Dekirk, and civil lawsuits resolved through a reported $93,000 settlement. Those outcomes need to be considered together. [11, 12]

What WJOL has reported about 2027

On August 10, 2026, WJOL reported that O’Dekirk may have met with AFSCME and could be considering another mayoral campaign. The station explicitly described the prospect as speculation and said he had not declared his candidacy at that time. O’Dekirk served as mayor from 2015 to 2023, when Terry D’Arcy defeated him. [1]

WJOL separately reported on October 13 that D’Arcy would seek a second term. A new O’Dekirk candidacy was not independently confirmed for this guide as of November 5. The accurate description remains a possible run. [2]

The municipal election is April 6, 2027. Joliet’s official filing period is November 16–23, 2026, with petitions filed at the Joliet City Clerk’s Office. [2, 3]

Rosa Hernandez’s remarks and their limits

Rosa Hernandez previously served on Joliet’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. City Council minutes from May 16, 2023, record the unanimous appointment of John Stefanski to replace her. Her former position was on an appointed personnel board; it was not the position of police chief. [4]

In a supplied screenshot, a Facebook comment attributed to Rosa Arelly Hernandez describes criticism as “an attempt to smear O’Dekirk since he might be running again.” Other supplied posts defend him against responsibility for another person’s actions. A follow-up attributed to her also says allegations and victims’ experiences should be treated seriously and respectfully. [5]

These remarks express a defense of O’Dekirk and refer to a possible campaign. They do not establish that she speaks for him or that he has decided to run. The original post URLs and absolute posting dates were not supplied, so the comments remain attributed to screenshots rather than independently authenticated posts.

His police career and the older force controversy

O’Dekirk worked as a Joliet police officer beginning in 1993 and left the department in 2003, according to contemporary reporting reviewed for this guide. [6, 7]

At a June 12, 2020, news conference, local pastors presented an older video from his police career. Patch described it as showing O’Dekirk jumping onto a handcuffed man before both fell to the ground. The report also said the footage was grainy, lacked sound and could not be precisely dated by the presenters. It does not establish a disciplinary finding or court judgment concerning that encounter. [6]

Separate reporting summarized personnel orders listing seven suspensions totaling 49 days. Supporting records explaining the actions and whether all the suspensions were imposed were unavailable in the personnel files, according to a deputy chief quoted in the coverage. O’Dekirk disputed the reporting, acknowledged suspensions for missing a court date and writing on a desk, and denied being suspended for excessive force. The available record does not support labeling all 49 days as excessive-force discipline. [7]

A documented court decision from his police service

In People v. Rainey, decided January 29, 1999, an Illinois appellate court reviewed a 1997 arrest involving O’Dekirk and Officer Dupuis. The opinion states that Dupuis held the man’s head and throat while O’Dekirk tried to help open his mouth to recover suspected drugs. [8]

The appellate court reversed the conviction because the officers lacked sufficient probable cause for the arrest and search. That is a documented ruling about an unlawful seizure and search. It was not an excessive-force verdict against O’Dekirk, and it should not be described as one. [8]

The 2020 confrontation and Illinois State Police review

During unrest following the May 31, 2020, demonstrations, O’Dekirk became involved in a confrontation with Victor Williams and Jamal Smith. ABC7 reported that video appeared to show him grabbing a man and taking him to the ground. The men’s attorneys alleged an unprovoked use of excessive force. O’Dekirk said he had been confronted and attacked and used police tactics to protect himself. [9]

On June 2, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that an independent investigation was needed. Its statement said Joliet police were requesting Illinois State Police involvement to avoid potential conflicts of interest. The statement called it the June 1 incident; reporting generally associates it with the night of May 31. [10]

The later outcomes are part of the record: criminal charges against Williams and Smith were dismissed in July 2020; reporting in June 2021 said no criminal charges would be filed against O’Dekirk following the state-police investigation. [11]

The men also pursued federal civil lawsuits. On February 15, 2022, Patch reported that settlement documents obtained from the city through a public-records request showed a combined $93,000 settlement. A settlement resolves litigation without itself establishing that the allegations were proven at trial. [12]

These were events from 2020 through 2022. They should not be presented as a newly opened state-police investigation.

The separate Attorney General investigation

The Illinois Attorney General’s civil investigation examined the police department as a whole. Its December 2024 findings identified a pattern of unlawful force and discrimination, along with failures in accountability. The report was not a criminal judgment against O’Dekirk. [13, 14]

The same official record says O’Dekirk and several council members requested an investigation following Eric Lurry’s death and the release of video. The Attorney General also acknowledged the city’s and department’s cooperation. Those facts belong alongside the report’s criticism. [13]

The Robert Hernandez discussion

Rosa Hernandez’s supplied remarks also address the controversy covered in JolietVotes’ Robert Hernandez explainer. The screenshots include an image presented as a $200 check from Citizens for O’Dekirk to Valerie Terlep. [5, 15]

The image has not been independently authenticated for this guide. By itself, it does not establish the payment’s purpose or prove that O’Dekirk knew about, participated in or financed criminal conduct. The reviewed material provides no basis to transfer allegations against Robert Hernandez to O’Dekirk. It also does not establish a family relationship between Robert Hernandez and Rosa Hernandez.

Residents can assess O’Dekirk’s documented conduct, responses and public responsibilities while keeping those separate allegations tied to the evidence that actually supports them.

Sources and public records

1. WJOL, possible mayoral run, August 10, 2026
https://www.wjol.com/is-former-joliet-mayor-bob-odekirk-considering-another-run-for-mayor/

2. WJOL, D’Arcy to seek a second term, October 13, 2026
https://www.wjol.com/joliet-mayor-terry-darcy-to-run-for-second-term/

3. City of Joliet, Elections, checked November 5, 2026
https://www.joliet.gov/Government/Departments/City-Clerks-Office/Elections

4. Joliet City Council minutes, May 16, 2023, marked pending approval
https://joliet.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=20A0749B-5857-4470-99F7-F374253AEDD1&ID=14139114&M=F

5. User-supplied Facebook screenshots and check image. Original post URLs and absolute post dates were not supplied.

6. Patch, pastors present older police-career video, June 12, 2020
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/joliet-pastors-hold-press-conference-show-odekirk-video

7. WFTV / Cox Media Group, police record and O’Dekirk’s response, June 10, 2020; summarizes Herald-News reporting
https://www.wftv.com/news/trending/mayor-illinois-city-defends-actions-after-video-shows-him-grabbing-protester-by-neck/ZG5E6SCERRFX5K5HTBSRK57BIY/

8. People v. Rainey, No. 3-98-0160, Illinois Appellate Court, January 29, 1999, reproduced by Justia
https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/court-of-appeals-third-appellate-district/1999/3980160.html

9. ABC7 Chicago, force allegations and O’Dekirk’s response, June 10, 2020
https://abc7chicago.com/post/joliet-mayor-says-he-will-not-step-down-after-confrontation-with-protester-/6240051/

10. Will County State’s Attorney, statement dated June 2, 2020
https://willcountysao.com/2020/06/statement-by-will-county-states-attorney-james-glasgow/

11. Patch, no-charge outcome and dismissal of the men’s charges, June 17, 2021
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/mayor-odekirk-cleared-state-police-may-31-2020-scuffle

12. Patch, $93,000 settlement based on records obtained from the city, February 15, 2022
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/93-000-settlement-lawsuit-against-joliet-mayor-odekirk

13. Illinois Attorney General, Joliet investigation executive summary
https://jolietpolicing.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/executive-summary.html

14. Illinois Attorney General, investigation scope and timeline
https://jolietpolicing.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/faq/

15. JolietVotes, Robert Hernandez explainer, October 30, 2026; related context rather than independent corroboration
https://jolietvotes.com/spotlight/robert-hernandez-police-ties-and-2025-guilty-pleas-explained/

Source limitations

the original state-police case file, signed settlement agreements and complete personnel records were not obtained for this draft. Those portions rely on attributed reporting. Screenshot authorship and posting dates remain unverified.

no new responses were sought from O’Dekirk or Rosa Hernandez. Their historical responses and the supplied remarks are attributed. The draft does not assert a new investigation or criminal involvement arising from the check image.