Oswego Police Officer Facing DUI Charge Resigns
John P. Wolfinbarger is off the force effective immediately, according to a release from Oswego police.
An Oswego Police officer involved in a standoff with Channahon police last week has resigned from the department, according to a release from the Oswego police department.
Eleven-year department veteran John P. Wolfinbarger, of Yorkville, was charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing a police officer and DUI alcohol March 13 after Channahon police responded to a call from patrons at Chicago Pizza & Catering Company that a man with a gun was inside arguing with someone. While witnesses were speaking to police on the scene, they saw Wolfinbarger trying to leave in a black pick-up truck.
They surrounded the vehicle, but Wolfinbarger would not speak with police and did not exit the truck for 15 to 20 minutes.
Oswego Police Chief Dwight Baird said last week he would act swiftly in investigating the incident.
“The Oswego Police Department respects and honors the personal rights of individuals employed by the Department, however, we expect our employees to act in a lawful, professional and respectful manner both on and off duty. As a nationally accredited police agency, we are held to the highest standards of service and integrity,” the department said in a statement released late Wednesday.
Wolfingbarger will appear in court on April 1, according to Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland.
genesis Fanaro
7:25 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
o wow in the last year our department has fallen so low in my eyes. how can it be that our officers are having so many problems. dui sexual harrassment pulling weapon on unarmed civilians the cheif of police needs to start doing evaluations on his employees because something is seriously wrong with or police. these issues need to be resolved with loss of their badges!
michael a tkach
7:42 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
what department are you refering to?
PT
7:51 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Do not confuse the actions of those associated with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office and the allegations associated with that Office, with those of the Oswego Police Department. Get your facts straight, before you post them!!
Jeff
7:35 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The sexual harassment allegations and the pulling the gun incident were with the Kendall county sheriffs and NOT the Oswego Police
Steven
7:40 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
another cop knows how it feels to get one. i'm sure hes given out dozens. stings, don't it?
lisa hestand
7:52 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
What a joke. He will be on another police force before you know it.
Robert Scott
8:06 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Lisa, don't count on it, most departments don't hire patrolman after they are about 35 years of age, unless you are a chief maybe. Where do you see a joke?
Carrie Niesman
7:56 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Thank you Michael and Jeff.... I was wondering what Genesis is referring to as well. If you want to post a comment on here, you may want to appear a bit more intelligent by using spellcheck.
David Edelman
7:57 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Lets hope for the best for he and his family. We all make mistakes in life and a good reminder and a humbling experience for us all. This can happen to anyone. A lose, lose for us all.
Oswego Mom
8:04 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
really? I doubt it. I would never get into a car drunk. And I don't own a gun. And I wouldn't refuse to get out of my car if ordered to do so by the police. Tell me how this could "happen" to "anyone" again? And how is it a lose? This guy is a loser for his behavior, and it's a loss for the OPD. This is more than a simple mistake. This is egregious.
Julie Gondar
12:13 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Agreed David. He obviously is in need of help, I hope he can get that.
John
8:15 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Who cares what department he is with, the fact of the matter is these "people of trust role models" are continuing making foolish decisions. If you want to be in law enforcement, act like it and enforce, or dont even apply for the job if you are fake.
Pat Stiles
8:32 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The pulling of a gun in walmart, and sexual harrasments are the County Sheriff Dept. This incident is Oswego Police Dept. Keep in mind that this issue was resolved in one week. Shows leadership in the Chief. Nice Job Chief Baird.
Jacqueline
9:18 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
What is resolved in this incident? He goes to court in April.
Renee
9:18 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
This was the right call. Chief put him on administrative leave, officer chooses to resign. This sends a message that the department holds it's own accountable and the officer still respected his department. It's a lose/lose but the taxpayer is not settling lawsuits.
Smokingdiesel
10:25 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
But because he resigned he still gets to collect his pension!! Dosent anyone get that!? We're still gonna pay for this poor reflection of law enforcement!
Jubilee Jones
12:21 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
You clearly know nothing about police pensions. In most departments, the officers themselves pay a % of their pay toward their pension. So the pension he's earned so far is for work he has already done. He will get nothing more than what he has already contributed. Learn how pensions work before you make the false statement that "we the taxpayer" are STILL gonna pay.
George
10:46 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Smoking diesel, you are NOT going to pay his pension, he has already paid into it for 11 years and he's going to get back what he rates. Stop acting like you are such a victim of this "hoorible cop".
Jenny
11:23 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Reminder how one decision can change the course of your whole life.
Smokingdiesel
5:51 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
GEORGE, YOU ARE AN IDIOT! look into police pension or any pension for the matter. The employee contributes a portion and the local taxing body be it a police dept or school district or city pays into the remainder. This joker will get a guaranteed dollar amout when he is age qualifing for the rest of his life for his dis-service to the community and we as tax payers partially funded it! While it looks great because he is gone,he made at least one smart move and retired before the Chief could fire his a--!
I think we all got Kitted!
Jake Delrose
5:28 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Smoking,
It's allowed under the contract with the city /village and the union that this is allowed, if he re-signs. But yes tax dollars are there either to match or to whatever percentage that is agreed upon.
Ultimately, it's the contractual agreement that we all have to abide by.
George
6:47 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Apparently you are an immature person with your hot headed response in all caps, so I don't feel like I can explain anything to a person who can't even conduct themself like a mature adult but I do find it ironic how you are quick to judge others for their "dis-service". I don't want to get into a battle of words and wisdom with you because apparently you are unarmed
Smokingdiesel
7:57 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
there is nothing you need to explain,there is no valid explanation,just look up your facts before you make a statement that is 100% wrong. we can talk smack back and forth but the short end of this thread is that I as a tax payer (and you can include yourself if you like) are now responsible for paying this pension with our tax dollars. the irony of my judgement comes from this individual being arrested,drunk,with a loaded gun while trying to drive away and refusing to get out of his vehicle after he was ordered by other police officers. enough said?
John
12:10 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
smokingdiesel, please submit proof of your statements. I have friends that paid into IMRF for several years and when they left the police dept, voluntarily and with good records, they only got back what they paid in, nothing more.
When you leave IMRF prior to age 55 and 25 years of service, you don't get 100% pension. When you leave with the amount of years this ex-officer did, you don't get any 'extra' money.
So I'm not seeing how you think you're on the "short end of the stick" with this. I would appreciate knowing where you get your info.
Jake Delrose
5:32 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
John,
In the IMRF, you are vested after 8 years of service based on your salary. Once that is vested, the employer is obligated to match what has been agreed on once that person has retired or becomes disabled from work. Your age requirements are correct though.
Renee
9:17 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
I guess we all see what kind of campaign Eaves will run. Going negative , this is sad. This has nothing to do with the Sheriffs office but Eaves is already fishing for votes.
Jeff Law
9:40 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Eaves4sheriff, Really... Who is Eaves? I have lived in Kendall County for 23 years and never heard of him. I see you , or your campaign committee, take advantage of a bad story. Don't want that leadership.... Next
www.eaves4sheriff.com
10:06 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Was not the intention.
i apologize.
www.eaves4sheriff.com
10:19 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
I am a Plano resident and a resident of Kendall county for the past 28 years. Chief Eaves is Chief of our community and has been for the past 24 years. I did not mean to insult anyone. Again, I apologize.
Jeff Law
10:38 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Why would you post your support on here? Makes no sense but being negative
anonymous
7:53 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
let's all be thankful he didn't kill anybody like while drunk that cop did on Lake Shore Drive the other night in Chicago-wait-am I seeing a pattern here? I'm sure that cops never "accidently" pull over other off-duty cops on suspicion of DUI and then let them go when they find out they're also a member of the FOP. what a joke.
Magilla Gorilla
7:34 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
Anonymous, rumor has it, you are 100% correct. Serve and protect is not a priority when it comes to the privileged, so I've been told. I'd bet that if this guy was stopped by a lone officer on his way home, he'd have been allowed to continue on. People should not think that because one department WEEDED OUT one of their own in front of a bunch of witnesses that officers uphold the Law when no one is around. By the way, why didn't French and Tichava suffer the same fate? Makes KC look like The Sunshine Band.
Rogue1
1:33 am on Friday, March 29, 2013
These threads remind me of Facebook. We all get to read, then agree/disagree with each others thoughts/opinions and our 'venting' thoughts or knowledge of the matter. The brain isn't designed to deal with so much bs- It's why I closed my Facebook too. We're all in search of the drama in everything. We feed on it like a drug, trying to convince or teach everyone that 'I' have the correct idealism, but never truly listening. This will be my one and only post--after reading/laughing at these for years it surprises me a little this IS my first/last, but it's because i personally know this man. and he was wrong, but still is my friend. So keep it up folks, ya make it real AND entertaining and you've done well replacing my daily newspaper comics. - and i cant WAIT to laugh at the replies--geez, I really hope I spelled everything write- r1phymaj92