On Harper College’s 200-acre campus, the Harper Police Union casted a vote of no confidence in Police Chief John Lawson this past month. A vote of no confidence refers to when the majority doesn’t believe in one’s abilities or lacks faith in said person.

Lawson previously attended Harper and graduated in 1987. He then went on to Lewis University for his Master’s in Criminal Justice and then Northwestern University for Police Management.

Before taking over as chief, Lawson was with the Roselle Police Department, the Bannockburn Police Department, and the College of Lake County Police Department. 

Harper finds themselves in a position they’ve never seen before alongside Union Representative at the Illinois Council of Police, Richard Bruno.

Bruno describes the entire scenario as almost unheard of.

“It’s very rare because the chief is appointed by the people in charge, either a board, president, mayor, or whatever it may be, and that appointment is approved by a board, just like it is in the college,” Bruno states. 

Kimberly Pohl, Director of Communications at Harper College, released a statement that reveals there is no plan to terminate Chief Lawson.

“Harper representatives met with the ICOPS union leadership team and offered a voluntary opportunity for each police officer to individually meet so all union members could share their opinions and concerns in confidence,” Pohl states. “No cause for termination was found.”

Nonetheless, plans are in place to make improvements. 

“Measures are being taken including requesting mediated relationship-building meetings, engaging in more constructive and frequent dialogue, and identifying growth opportunities for employees,” Pohl says. “We look forward to building on this progress and working alongside the union in a spirit of our core values.”

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