Undersheriff Investigation Request Put Off To Next Week

To no one's surprise, McHenry County Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Meyer Thursday put off until next week a deputy's request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate whether Undersheriff Andy Zinke tipped a political donor about a DEA drug investigation involving his company.  Ex-Sheriff's Narcotics head John Koziol asked for one Wednesday claiming the State's Attorney had a conflict of interest if it investigated so Meyer gave Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally until next Friday to answer that.

Meyer ought to be the top expert in the state on the subject since he decided on another deputy's request for a Special Prosecutor to investigate alleged misconduct by Sheriff Keith Nygren. After 35 courtroom events covering more than two years, Meyer decided this April there was no inherent conflict and State's Attorney Lou Bianchi could investigate the Sheriff if he wanted to. Since April Bianchi's refused to say if he would but so far he hasn't.

Meyer didn't draw the Koziol case because of the earlier one, however.  McHenry County Circuit Clerk Katherine Keefe said Thursday that by standing Court order these sorts of requests go in sequence to either Meyer or Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell.  "It was just his turn," she said.

In the pic:  McHenry County Undershiff Andy Zinke, Sheriff Keith Nygren at his left, at a meeting last year.