A Joliet police officer was recommended for termination. He continued receiving pay. Years later, federal drug charges followed.
According to payroll records obtained by Joliet Patch, Officer William Busse received $76,755 in regular pay over approximately nine months in 2020 after then-Chief Al Roechner recommended his dismissal.
The proposed termination remained unresolved through the police disciplinary process.
In 2021, Busse was arrested over allegations of selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer. His Joliet employment subsequently ended through a negotiated agreement.
Federal prosecutors indicted him on six drug-trafficking counts in 2024. A separate domestic battery conviction resulted in his police decertification in 2025.
The record does not establish that other officers participated in the alleged drug offenses.
How should Joliet balance employees' due-process rights with accountability for prolonged paid leave, unresolved discipline, and taxpayer expense?
