Interim North Chicago police chief quits after just six days

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W. Michael Hosking

Updated: February 13, 2012 9:23AM

The retired Lake Forest police chief brought in to lead the scandal-plagued North Chicago police force has quit after less than a week on the job.

W. Michael Hosking, tapped last week by Mayor Leon Rockingham to run the department on an interim basis, decided late Monday he doesn’t want the job.

Hosking, 61, of Libertyville, made his decision after attending a committee meeting of the North Chicago City Council.

“I don’t think North Chicago is ready for me, nor am I ready for North Chicago,” Hosking said Tuesday.

Hosking served as interim chief for a total of six days. He informed Rockingham by phone late Monday of his decision not to sign the employment agreement that would have earned him a reported $9,000 a month.

“I listened to the discussion last night by the members of the City Council and the audience and I just decided it would not be in my best interests, and likely not in the best interests of the community if I stayed,” Hosking said.

Rockingham brought Hosking in after placing Police Chief Mike Newsome on paid administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation into the case of Darrin “Dagwood” Hanna, 45, who died Nov. 13, a week after his arrest on a charge of domestic battery. The incident is under investigation by Illinois State Police.

Attorneys for Hanna’s family have filed a wrongful death suit against the city and six officers they claim beat and Tasered an unarmed Hanna for 20 minutes before calling paramedics.

Rockingham placed the officers on desk duty and under increasing pressure last week announced a series of steps aimed at re-establishing confidence in the police department. He also appointed a retired Illinois State Police officer to launch a new internal investigation into Hanna’s death and five other recent excessive force complaints.

But some people, including those who came forward with their own allegations of abuse, quickly questioned the fitness of the appointments — both white men from outside the community. North Chicago City Attorney Chuck Smith was also pulled into the fray. During Monday’s meeting, he refused to address insinuations about his work for the city of Highland Park during a racial profiling controversy in the late 1990s.

Questioned about his relationship with Smith by 3rd Ward Ald. Valerie DeVost, Hosking said he has known Smith for years through the attorney’s work as a city prosecutor for Lake Forest.

DeVost, a frequent critic of Rockingham, said she and others on the council were prepared to support Hosking despite reservations caused by a lack of input on his appointment.

“People are losing hope and trust in anybody that comes in,” DeVost said. “They’ve lost trust in their leaders in this administration.”