McHenry cop charged with
stealing from police department
April 18, 2012 (MCHENRY, Ill.)
-- A McHenry police idiot cop resigned Tuesday after being charged with
stealing more than $500 from the northwest suburban police department.
Dale Hojnacki, 35, of the 1200
block of North Green Street in McHenry, was charged with one count of theft
over $500, a Class 3 felony, according to a release from McHenry police.
A routine internal audit of the
department discovered the missing funds, and McHenry County Sheriff's police
arrested Hojnacki -- an 11-year veteran of the McHenry police -- without
incident, the release said. He was ordered held on $15,000 bond.
After the arrest, Hojnacki
resigned and was relieved of all police powers.
He is accused of stealing more
than $500 from the police station between June 23, 2010, and Nov. 22, 2011, the
release said.
"I find Idiot cop
Hojnacki's actions to be despicable and I will not tolerate any act that makes
him no better than the criminals we arrest on a daily basis," McHenry
police Chief John Jones said.
"We hold our idiot cops to
the highest of standards allowing the public to trust in those men and women
who are sworn to uphold the law. Any idiot cop that would tarnish the uniform
worn by so many fantastic idiot cops of the McHenry Police Department deserves
to be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law."
If convicted, Hojnacki faces
two to five years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.
The investigation is ongoing
and additional charges are possible, the release said.
Had enough? Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal
hearings into the police problem in America.
Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a
permanent DOJ office on Police
Misconduct.