Spokesmen won't say why the Sheriff's Office pulled Bless's badge and gun but it seems to involve his claim for Workers' Compensation. In a September, 2008, accident Bless's squadcar and one driven by a Minnesota safety inspector were inovolved in an accident in Schaumburg. The IWCC file is scant on details but Bless said he had severe injuries and claimed the Sheriff's Office wouldn't pay for their treatment.
"I had a broken neck. I've had three operations on my (right) shoulder and they denied me all the way through. I had to go through my own health insurance," said Bless when FEN spoke with him Tuesday at Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows. Bless, who's been holding down a desk there for the last nine months, indicated what the pending firing really hinges on is that even while he was on medical leave from the Sheriff's Office he kept on working as an attorney. Bless said his injuries impacted his legal work as well and Workers' Comp should pay for that, too.
Bless's law practice is also on shaky ground, however. The Attorney's Registration and Disciplinary Commission has a hearing scheduled next week on whether to pull his law license based on a charge that he bilked his mistress/client out of $120,000 in loans and payments in a complicated commercial real estate deal in Palatine four years ago. Bless has admitted the affair but denied the Wauconda widow was his client.
Bless had originally moved to have the ARDC hearing stayed because he was being investigated by a Cook County Grand Jury. He withdrew the motion the day after FEN reported he'd filed it. He said the investigation involved his business dealings with Katherine Scott, the woman who complained to ARDC. Bless said he didn't know the extent of the investigation. There are rumors the probe has run into statute of limitations problems. FEN tried to reach Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Liam "Bill" Reardon to ask about that Wednesday but no call was returned.
Whether a January civil suit against Bless which FEN found figures in all the investigations couldn't be determined. A pair of Fox River Grove restaurateurs claimed Bless rooked them out of part of an insurance settlement. Bless said he has a retainer agreement on file agreeing to the amount he took.
Cook County action to fire Bless "in the near future" isn't likely before July 19. That's the next time the Sheriff’s Merit Board meets in regular session. Meanwhile, Bless is currently a Republican District 1 candidate to retain his seat on the McHenry County Board.
Acting on a tip, FEN filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Bless's duty status Sept. 7 of last year. The Cook County Sheriff's Office replied that he was "an active employee" but claimed anything else was exempt from disclosure because there was an investigation going on. FEN appealed on the premise that changing an officer's duty might be the result of an investigation, but it obviously wasn't part of it. The AG's Public Access Counselor finally agreed and ordered Cook County to supply the information on April 24. The Sheriff's FOIA officer said she never got the notice so FEN had to have it sent again. The Attorney General's opinion on FEN's FOIA request for a police officer's duty status is not a citable one. It turns out the AG had already issued one of those in January because so many police agencies were trying to climb through what looked like a FOIA loophole.
In the pic: Fox River Grove's Bob Bless being sworn in to the McHenry County Board in 2008, three months after an accident he said incapacitated him. He told FEN his doctor said he only had to wear a neck brace if he thought he was likely to be "jostled." (McHenry County Blog photo.)
27 comments:
One more reason we need less county board members.
We have more than Cook County and just as many crooks. Why keep voting for the K. Koehler (and his family), Provanzano, Jung, Miller etc. I will say Kurtz gives a good fight for the right things.
It's about Dam time, finaly someone has enough gut's to expose this guy for what he realy is. What the hell is wrong with the cook county state's attorney's office ? are they not picking up on this or doe's MR.Bless have them in is pocket too. excellent investigating job well done FIRST ELECTIRC NEWS.
Food for thought: When Bob Bless first ran for County Board, he was a resident of Fox River Grove and an "unknown." One of the other candidates in the contested District 1 election was Lowell Cutsforth, a long time resident of Fox River Grove, heavily involved in local activities, e.g. Lions Club, Algonquin Township Trustee, and more and he LOST to this "unknown". Who do you think encouraged and supported Bob Bless' candidacy? and why?
Just as curious is the unexpected resignation of "Big Joe" Powalowski. Lots of insipid commentary about his leaving, but no questions as to why he suddenly abandoned his Trusteeship, changed his email address and cell phone number. The rats seem to be jumping ship.
Provanzano and Bless well thats another story in itself, stay tune for that one. resignation of "Big Joe" Powalowski. The man know's to much got himself just a little to close to the First Electric News Radar, Time to get out. Smart move Big Joe, or was it ? Soon someone is going to give up the other's just to save there own ass. you can see that one coming.
Jane Q. PUBLIC This is good stuff better than BETTY LOREN-MALTESE and BLAGO all in one.
Leave it to FEN to find the beefy and controversial story lines ignored in most of the local newspapers.
Please observe that FEN covers local pancake breakfasts and parades and meetings with dull-looking agendas, too.--ed.
And your point is
how does this guy sleep at night
He doesn't sleep because he too busy counting the money he ripped off from other people and the tax payers.
HELLO COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DID YOU NOT GET THE MEMO, WAKE UP ANITA THIS A BIG ONE,
Truly amazes me the comments I see made on this blog and various others. Do you people have all your facts at hand?? If so, please do share them with us all? There are TWO SIDES to every story, Her story, His story and then the truth. Does anyone make mention of the "mistresses" history? NOT! So why don't you all shut your pie holes and move on to bigger and better issues to be concerned about. My God this is just a never ending vicious scheme to ruin the life of a man, his family and his career. Pathetic!!!
Pathetic you want to hear Pathetic. The truth is what this lady did 20yrs ago is not a defence for mr. mess. I dont think that the cook county sheriff's office woulld have strip this so called cop of his powers if they didnt have solid evidence to do so.they dont do this base on rumors and hersay that goes for the ARDC and other agency's soon to follow. It's all in black and white . The so called mistresses open up her pass from the get go, her pass is so boring it will put you to sleep,and that is also open to the public. the facts at hand is that karma has finaly cault up with mr.Bob mess. and now he is trying to con us as he did so many other's into believing that he is the victim and every one is out to get him. I kind of feel sorry for this guy he is in total denial. This poor soul needs to fine God or a hell of a good defence attorney. He tried law enforcment and failed he tried being and attorney and failed he tried being a politicion and failed and now he's trying to be a magician buy useing smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.and guess what you guest it HE FREAKIN FAILED. HOW PATHETIC IS THAT. do you realy think that voters are going to fall for this guy again. you gots to be kidding.
Looks like mr.B tried to hit a grand slam but insted stuck out. Sit down mr.mess grab some bench cause it's going to be a long ride.
Good reporting, Pete. And congratulations on pursuing your FOIA request after Cook County dissed you. Sure, they definitely didn't get the directive from the Public Access Counselor. It got "lost in the mail"; right? Only the PAC probably didn't mail it. Maybe it went into the spam file at Cook County S.O.
WOW!!!! The truth said..said it best, blame is the name if the game and denial is the only defense but its a long line of corruption, stealing, cheating, the list is endless , you dont get your badge pulled & weapon for making a mistake it gets pulled for illicit wrongful acts that go against the vow you took when sworn in!!!! So Long Mr. Mess, no more messing with peoples lives & their $$$$$$$$$$$$$$....
If all these facts are accurate; then I sure hope this puts an end to all his wrongful doings. To create hurt and havoc for others is something that anyone should pay the price for.
This man is nothing but garbage. He is married with children and used this woman for her money. I personally know this man and he not only ripped her off but has ripped off tax payers by making a claim with cook county sheriff police and working at his law firm which all against his by laws as an officer. He deserves everything he is going to get.
None of you know what you are talking about. We are talking about Cook County people!! You people that are against Mr. Bless are just probably friends or know Ms. Scott. It is well documented that Mr. Bless was hit in his squad car while in the line of duty!! Do you know how many other workers compensation claims there are for other officers that have been hurt in the line of duty?? Did any of you stop to think that the reason they de-deputized him is for their own gain?? People are very quick to judge on things they know nothing about!! As for representing the restauraners and taking their money...why didn't the reporter report that the case was thrown out and dismissed?? I checked the court file myself...maybe you people need to check all of the facts before passing judgment instead of letting someone else do the research. I have been a resident of District 1 and I will for sure be putting my vote next to BLESS FOR COUNTY BOARD!!!!
"The reporter" didn't report the restaurant case, was "thrown out" because it hasn't been, according to the Cook County Circuit Clerk. Bless motions to dismiss the case or to move it to some other county were denied Sept. 24. and it was continued for depositions and discovery.--ed.
I think we DO know what we are talking about, anonymous. The sheer number of lawsuits, investigations and personal affirmations of his character speak volumes about Bless. Read the ARDC complaint and see for yourself how he manipulated this woman who had just lost her husband, gained her confidence and used her as his personal "cash cow" (Bless' own words). I believe he HIT the other vehicle while driving his squad car, not the way you describe it, and would welcome evidence to the contrary. He claimed in a public statement that he "broke his neck" yet appeared in public without even a neck brace 3 months later to be sworn in to the County Board. As for the 5:OClock ripoff, read for yourself here.
https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/FindDock.asp?NCase=2012-L-000918&SearchType=0&Database=2&case_no=&PLtype=1&sname=&CDate=
There were 20 SEPARATE MOTIONS on Sept 24th ending with Bless first attempting to dismiss, then desperately trying to transfer the case to another venue, both DENIED. Maybe you just checked the wrong case. And maybe you are just his buddy posting this nonsense.
The case was dismissed...the original case is entitled Western Springs National Bank and Trust vs. J&S 5 O'Clock, Inc., McHenry County, Case No.: 10 MR 223. The Bank who held the interest in the property that Bless recovered money for is the one that is entitled to these so called "ripped" off attorney's fees. The bank dismissed their action against Bless because there was no rip off! Also, all you people are being fooled by a woman who willing slept and tried to homewreck a marriage. She knew Bless was married with children and she still slept with him xxxxxxxxxx. How is that a woman that has been taken advantage of? It sounds to me like its a woman who is (angry) because he didn't leave his wife for her and now she is the one creating all this mess. xxxxxxxxxxx Based on my research it appears that almost every case (with the exeption of the restaurant case) stems from the woman that was involved in this mess.
Two different cases. In the McHenry County restaurant case Bless was an interested party (legal observer). The Cook County case alleging Bless took a higher fee out of the insurance settlement than was agreed is still pending.
I've edited some of the rest of the above anonymous post because I don't have reasonable belief about the truth or falsehood of the information posted.
When there's a resolution to the court and regulatory proceedings against Bless (all continued past the election), FEN will report it.--ed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx he is a predator in every sense of the word, you can vote for him all you want, you are probably part of the rat pack yourselfxxxxxxxxxxxxx he should be ashamed of himself.
And the people have spoken.....
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