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Off-Duty Sheriff's Officer Shoved at Walmart

Deputy pulls service weapon in check-out line.

An off-duty Kendall County sheriff’s deputy was involved in an altercation at about noon Sunday at the Oswego Walmart that led to him pulling his weapon on a fellow shopper.

According to an report, several police responded to the store for a 911 call of a fight in progress. The officer had been shoved in the check-out line after words were exchanged with Jason Thurmond, 38, of Montgomery, and the officer displayed his weapon to make an arrest.

The deputy did not say he was an officer before being shoved, according to Rob Sherwood, Oswego police media relations officer.

Thurmond was arrested by Oswego police, who arrived on the scene almost immediately. Thurmond was charged with misdemeanor battery, Sherwood said.

He posted $150 bond and was given a March 28 court date.

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Tim February 7, 2012 at 11:52 pm
You are right, there are many residents who are sick and tired of the behavior coming out of the police departments.
Instead of the police 'policing themselves' and drumming out the bad seeds that will never meet the standards, they are putting themselves on the chopping block when the next round of budget negotiations comes around. Eventually, the tide will turn, and the residents will be pounding at the desks of their other elected officials demanding a funding cut to these departments until they demonstrate the ability to be responsible in their jobs. Kendall County is not 'large' by any measure, yet in less than a year, another deputy was arrested for stealing drugs from the Yorkville dept, and now this guy goes off like he's playing a part in a movie. How many more 'isolated incidents' have to happen before people start to realize that something is very wrong with the leadership in this area. Are all cops like this? No. But the ones who are are going to make life very difficult for the ones who are not. I hope they seriously think about this before forming the usual wall of protection for one of their 'boys in blue'.
Citizen for Reform February 8, 2012 at 01:20 am
Why is court date set so far away until March 28th? That seems extremely long considering others charged with battery charges a day later and have an earlier court date set. How do they determine that?
Yorkvillian February 8, 2012 at 01:27 am
Check your facts there Tim. The ex officer that was involved in the Yorkville PD incident was the Yorkville Deputy Chief. Not a Kendall Co Deputy.
Tim February 8, 2012 at 02:00 am
Yes, another 'deputy' in Kendall County.
Yorkville is in Kendall County. Which, is why I said 'another deputy'. And why I referred to the 'problem in the area', and not in any individual department. My facts are fine, thanks.
Amy Miller Jackson February 8, 2012 at 02:13 am
What ifs and could haves are how new laws are born. Thats all we need are more laws. Take a situation and put some what ifs in there and BOOM! We have a new law!
Yorkvillian February 8, 2012 at 02:48 am
Yorkville is a police department. Thus their employees are police officers. Kendall COuty is a Sherrif's department. Thus their employees are deputized. There is a difference. Please don't slam one department for another department's employee's crime. That is all I want to clarify.
joe smith February 8, 2012 at 03:06 am
Another example of the Kendall County sherrif's office running amok. The deputy should be fired. He did not identify himself as a LEO until AFTER he pulled his gun.
Amy Miller Jackson February 8, 2012 at 03:24 am
Nice conspiracy theory Citizen, but what if????
Daisy Doe February 8, 2012 at 03:26 am
The deputy has been unofficially named according to an article in the Chicago Tribune.
Todd Milliron February 8, 2012 at 04:11 am
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-sheriffs-spokesman-under-investigation-for-pulling-gun-in-walmart-20120207,0,5220194.story
Betsy M February 8, 2012 at 04:26 am
And some more information http://www.wgnradio.com/news/local/breaking/chi-sheriffs-spokesman-under-investigation-for-pulling-gun-in-walmart-20120207,0,4853342.story?track=rss Looks like there has been a complaint filed against Deputy French.
Andre Salles February 8, 2012 at 05:23 am
We'll have a story in five and a half hours with all this information and more.
Citizen for Reform February 8, 2012 at 06:17 am
Unfortunately, this finally brings to the fore front and just scratches the surface of what really goes on with Kendall County Sheriff's office and the Kendall County Jail!
Abuse of power and brutality, and if you are unlucky enough to be incarcerated it is unbelievable and you have NO rights! Try to fight this from inside jail... Every phone conversation is recorded...try to complain!! I have been told by many inmates that have been released about if they file a formal complaint or a grievance about conditions that they are taken to an area that there are no video recordings and are beaten, withhold food and medical attention. Pre-trial detainees (meaning innocent until proven guilty) are held in the same area with post-trial inmates. Made to stay in cells with others with infectious diseases. Lack of proper Medical care and some inmates have been given the wrong medication that nearly killed them!! We just had an inmate of 71 years die and they did an internal investigation and said it was "natural causes"..... Wake up Kendall County!! Full investigation needs to happen and dig deeper than just this case!!
William Hill February 8, 2012 at 06:25 am
The next time you need help, call a crackhead and see if they come running at 100mph to help you. Stop judging police when you dont know what really happened or what their policies/procedures are
Citizen for Reform February 8, 2012 at 06:42 am
Sounds like you work for Kendall County....
William Hill February 8, 2012 at 06:43 am
Nice try, but nope.
William Hill February 8, 2012 at 06:46 am
Citizen should recite what the laws in Illinois are governing police powers are when making an arrest since he is such an expert in this particular area
Citizen for Reform February 8, 2012 at 06:48 am
For your sake, I hope you never go there! I personally have never been arrested or incarcerated, however, I am accumulating information on this very topic. The days of Mayberry are over and Barney Fife needs to hand over his bullet!!
Citizen for Reform February 8, 2012 at 06:52 am
Clearly these are First and Fourth Amendment rights violations! Was that not clear?
William Hill February 8, 2012 at 06:55 am
However i do agree with "citizens" comment about barney fife handing over his bullet. People are getting crazier everyday and im sure the police see this everyday, therefore they cant afford to assume that aggressive people arent going to hurt them because they havent actually brandished a weapon yet. Im sure naperville residents wouldnt have thought that guy was going to murder that guy in the bar recently until it was too late
Steven Jack (Editor) February 8, 2012 at 11:53 am
This story has been updated this morning here: http://oswego.patch.com/articles/sheriff-s-deputy-still-on-active-duty-after-walmart-incident
Kevin February 8, 2012 at 02:04 pm
Those who would trade liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
It all comes out in the wash February 8, 2012 at 02:51 pm
All this because a RUDE dude opened his big mouth because he had a few items to check out and had ZERO patients.BULLY is what this is. Get's in the womans face who BTW is 9 months pregnant and acts like an animal. What man would allow another man to treat a woman like this? I doub't none of you would have allowed this. Then the rest of the story. Perhpas he never learned how to respectfully talk to people and thinks that because he has a badge hid in those pockets of his he can talk to people like this and act like a fool. Not to mention put every single person in that store at risk... Unprofessional to say the least and officers like this give great officers and departments bad reputations.
Daisy Doe February 8, 2012 at 03:19 pm
The worst part is that he is a veteran officer. If he acts like this and gets away with it what kind of message is he sending to the deputies below him? Rogue officers who act like he does, and it is happening all the time in Kendall. When citizens go in and make formal complaints they are laughed off. They have no Internal Affairs and all complaints are handled by their superiors (buddies). If you don't like your results at the Sheriff's office you're directed over to the State's Attorney's office. So at the end of the day does anyone really think that Thurmond's complaint is going anywhere? It makes for good PR to say they take these complaint's seriously but do they? I guess we shall see.
LRG February 8, 2012 at 04:45 pm
Wow so people stating an option on what they read make them Morons? Doesn't that lump you into the group? Get some manners please!
LRG February 8, 2012 at 04:46 pm
Or an innocent bystander!
Sheila Raddatz February 9, 2012 at 12:27 am
I am surprised the pregnant lady wasn't arrested when she didn't hit the ground as instructed by the officer. haha
CarolS February 9, 2012 at 01:02 pm
If the entire video ever gets released we will all know the truth, but since the officer is at fault you'll never see it in it's entirety. You'll see an edited version that doesn't show the officer berating a pregnant woman and provoking her husband. Yet the husband goes to jail and the officer gets no punishment. Nice justice.
Andre Salles February 9, 2012 at 01:45 pm
CarolS, the investigation is still ongoing. We don't know who will be determined to be at fault, or whether any disciplinary action will be taken. We don't even know if there is a security video to release. Everyone involved is innocent until proven guilty, and I hope we can all keep that in mind. Thanks.
John Q. Citizen February 9, 2012 at 09:25 pm
Very good point Pat. I am a police officer for 25 yrs and a seasoned Field Training Officer. The first training I drill into a new recruit is to "control your own ego", it will get into trouble every time. The second is I tell them the "best cops never have to fight" because communication skills are key to being a great peacekeeper. Sounds as if this Deputy Craig French didn't get trained properly or just enjoys being a bully when he doesn't get his way, but as usual it is another black-eye for all law enforcement to deal with. I'm ashamed for this deputy and he should be severely disciplined if not terminated.
Note Article
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