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Team,
Even as the COVID-19 situation improves, I want to recognize the toll that the pandemic has taken on each of us as it enters its third year.
Burnout and other mental health challenges are real, and I want to make sure you are aware of the resources available through the Cook County Employee Assistance Program, which includes access to three free confidential virtual therapy sessions provided by BetterHelp.
This resource is in addition to coverage through the County’s health insurance.
We are doing incredibly hard work during difficult times. Take care of yourselves and continue to look out for each other.
Thank you for all you do,
Kim
Do you have any news to share about awards, recognitions, SAO events, criminal justice-related stories, or other personal news? Send them to us here.
Spotlight “Discovery” Question
Today’s Questions:
What is your favorite winter activity?
Thomas Darman said that skiing is by far his favorite activity.
Anthony Paoletti said his favorite winter activity is playing in the snow with his silver lab named Beau.
What is (are) your New Year resolution(s)
Melinda Evelyn said her resolutions include: 1) Growing in the Lord and do His work, 2) Spending more time with family and close friends, and 3) Be grateful for her birthday.
Anthony Paoletti said he resolved to be a better person to himself.
For the Next Spotlight:
Will the Bear’s new combo of a GM named Ryan and a coach named Matt be better than its previous combo of a GM named Ryan and a coach named Matt? Please explain why.
Send your answers here.
Upcoming Events and Announcements
SAO Employees Can Return to the Office on Monday, February 14
As announced yesterday by Chief of Staff Alyson Miller, due to a sharp decline in new COVID-19 cases in the office, in the community, and across the country, SAO staff can physically return to the office starting Monday, February 14.
Please continue to maintain open communication with your supervisor regarding the need for you to be physically present in the office.
This is a change from the December 22 request that only essential in-person staff physically come to the office.
Office Closed for Lincoln’s Birthday and President’s Day
As a reminder, the courts and the SAO are closed on Friday, February 11 for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Monday, February 21 for President’s Day.
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SAO Webinar on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program on Thursday, February 10
The SAO is hosting Ashley Harrington from the Department of Education on Thursday, February 10 at 3 p.m. to provide an overview of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Ashely will overview the recent changes to the program and how they might affect you.
Have questions you want answered during the webinar? Send them here.
Sign up for the webinar here.
The session will be recorded and shared if you cannot attend.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Employee Resource Groups (ERG) Developments
Two weeks ago, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Lea Gutierrez sent an email announcing that ERGs are expanding to include ALL staff who support the mission of an ERG.
Any staff member with an interest in joining an ERG can fill out this NEW digital form to join the ERGs that interest them.
Please watch this short video about the ERGs, how the ERGs make the office a more inclusive workspace, and their connections to DEI.
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A new ERG, the Ability Alliance Network (AAN), is now part of the ERG family. The AAN’s mission is to increase awareness, inclusion, equity, and diversity of persons with disabilities so that all can thrive in a healthy and safe workplace.
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The former-Hispanic Assistant State’s Attorney ERG (HASA) will now go by Alianza (Spanish for “alliance”).
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The former African American ERG will now go by the Alliance for Black Leadership and Excellence (ABLE). ABLE will continue to demonstrate the principles of quality leadership and excellence, while working with allies to build a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace.
Click to contact the group leaders below.
SAO Celebrates Black History Month
To help celebrate Black History Month, the SAO would like to highlight Black employees from across the office in a social media campaign. Posts will be shared throughout February on the SAO Facebook and Twitter accounts (@cookcountysao).
If interested, please send an email to Julie Lynn with your title, unit, photo, and answers to the following questions by Tuesday, February 15. Answers to the questions should be about two sentences or less. Short videos are also welcome.
- What does Black History Month mean to you as an employee of the SAO?
- How does your work impact your community?
- How does the SAO highlight diversity?
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This Thing Between Us Book Discussion
On January 20, over 30 SAO employees attended a discussion hosted by Alianza on the book This Thing Between Us: A Novel by Gus Moreno.
The discussion encompassed the pressures of diversity group norms, how the statuses of undocumented people affect the SAO’s work, finding one’s identity, coping with grief, interactions with crime victims, and reliance on technology. Gus also discussed his inspiration for the book, his writing process, and future writing projects among other fantastic insights.
Noteworthy
The SAO’s 2022 Winter Olympics Connection
John Coyne and the entire Civil Actions Bureau (CAB) are cheering on the U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team. John’s daughter, Kendall Coyne Schofield, is the USA team captain.
Kendall has created tremendous buzz, becoming the first woman to compete in the NHL’s all-star skills contests and to be hired by the Chicago Blackhawks as a player development coach. Kendall was profiled in the L.A Times last week in an article titled Kendall Coyne Schofield ready to become the Billie Jean King of her era.
In the Olympics so far Kendall scored two goals in 64 seconds in the team’s 6-4 opening win against Finland. Kendall has already matched her goal total from the 2018 Olympics, where she led the team to a gold medal.
Before COVID-19, Kendall visited CAB and dished out inspiration and autographs.
Go Kendall, and go Team USA!
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Thought Leadership
Coverage of the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation Drug Court
The Sun-Times ran an article about the Rehabilitation Alternative Probation (RAP) Drug Court at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse overseen by Judge Charles Burns and staffed by Sarah Kaufman and Eileen Flaherty. The article profiles several of the court’s participants and outlines the challenges they face on their road to recovery.
 
Staff in the Community
Community Meetings with Elected Officials
SAO staff have been busy over the past couple weeks staffing community meetings with elected officials.
- On Wednesday, January 26, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney and 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman along with the East Lakeview Neighbors Association held a public safety forum in response to recent carjackings. Aileen Bhandari represented the SAO and answered questions as part of a panel that included members of the Chicago Police Department.
- On Thursday, January 27, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris held a public safety forum in which Kim Ward, Matthew Howroyd, and Gino Betts answered questions from the audience.
- On February 3, 43rd Alderman Michelle Smith held a public safety forum in which Matthew Howroyd and Gino Betts participated on the panel.
Common questions at each meeting included “How is the SAO prosecuting repeat offenders, especially juveniles?” “What can community members do to help the SAO prosecute cases?” “Does the SAO set bond?” and “How is the SAO prosecuting carjackings?”
Cook County Board Hearing on Violence Prevention
On Wednesday, January 19, Chief of Staff Alyson Miller testified to the Cook County Board of Commissioners along with other Cook County criminal justice stakeholders on violence prevention. Alyson spoke about how the SAO is addressing crime by continuing to prioritize the prosecution of violent crime, approving nearly 9 in 10 adult felony charges brought by police departments when a charging decision is made, increasing the integrity of the criminal justice system, and advocating for criminal justice reform.
Alyson took questions from several commissioners and helped provide greater clarity around the SAO’s role in the criminal justice system process. One common misunderstanding among the Commissioners was that prosecutors, rather than judges, made bail decisions.
Community Outreach to Students
The Community Justice Centers have had two major outreaches to students recently.
On January 20, Pauline Dengler and CPD Officer Lisa Barraco conducted an internet safety presentation for more than 100 7th and 8th grade students at Talcott Elementary School. Pauline and Officer Barraco discussed risky online behavior, the dangers of meeting people in person that they met online, digital footprints, and cyberbullying. They provided the students with resource information on how to get help if they become a victim.
 On January 26, Pauline Dengler and Nyshana Sumner conducted a webinar on the impact of teen drinking for 125 high school seniors with the youth cadet program at the Chicago Police and Fire Training Academy. This webinar covered the serious consequences of underage drinking including alcohol misuse, addiction, the Zero Tolerance Law, legal, financial and social ramifications, and the impact on driving privileges.
State’s Attorney Foxx Highlights
Press Conference Announcing Charges in Shooting of Eight-Year-Old Melissa Ortega
Chicago collectively mourned on Saturday, January 22 when eight-year-old Melissa Ortega was shot in the head while walking with her mother in Little Village. Melissa and her mother had only recently moved to Chicago from Mexico to “build their American Dream” together.
As a result of collaboration between the SAO, police, and the community charges were approved quickly. State’s Attorney Foxx appeared with Police Superintendent Brown and Mayor Lightfoot to announce charges in the fatal shooting.
 State’s Attorney Foxx explained during the press conference what the charges meant and expressed her deepest sorrows to Melissa’s family and reaffirmed the office’s commitment to getting them justice.
Watch the press conference here.
Celebrating the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown
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State’s Attorney Foxx spoke at the Chinese Lunar New Year Kickoff event on January 30 in Chinatown Square to celebrate the year of the tiger. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents great strength, fearlessness, bravery and forcefulness. Those born in 2022, 2010 and every 12 years previous are tigers. The Chinese New Year is celebrated with bright and colorful decorations that are usually a bright red as it represents happiness and good fortune.
State’s Attorney Foxx spoke to the resiliency and strength of the Chinatown community, and that no community better represents the tiger than Chinatown.
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Dozens of Additional Wrongful Convictions Tied to Sgt. Watts are Vacated
Last week, State’s Attorney Foxx announced that the office will not oppose petitions filed by 48 individuals (representing 54 cases) be dismissed as part of the office’s ongoing review of misconduct by corrupt former Chicago Police Sergeant Ronald Watts. Twenty cases were vacated at a hearing before the press conference. Since State’s Attorney Foxx took office in December 2016, the SAO has moved to vacate a total of 134 cases involving former Sergeant Watts.
During the press conference, the State’s Attorney spoke to how the integrity of the system requires that even when one arm of law enforcement goes afoul the rest of the system must do its part to uphold truth and justice. The State’s Attorney also spoke to working with a feverish effort to right the wrongs of the past to rebuild the trust in the community so that they can cooperate with law enforcement.
A big thank you to the Conviction Integrity Unit and the Post Conviction Unit for their hard work in vacating these cases.
Watch the press conference here. Read the press release here.
Hate Crime Charges Filed in String of Anti-Semitic Vandalism
During a press conference in West Ridge, State’s Attorney Foxx announced charges against a man for hate crimes following a series of vandalism incidents in West Rogers Park that targeted synagogues and Jewish businesses. These crimes come amidst a surge in anti-Semitism across the country and a synagogue shooting.
During the press conference, State’s Attorney Foxx voiced that those who engage in hate and seek to harm and destabilize communities will be held accountable. She also noted how accountability and justice will be delivered in this case because of the collaborative effort of the community, elected officials and law enforcement.
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Tech Tips
What is a VPN and Why Do I Need It?
Cisco AnyConnect is a virtual private network (VPN) that provides an encrypted connection over the Internet between a laptop and the SAO network. With Cisco AnyConnect, staff can access CRIMES, SAO Databases, remote printing/faxing from Toshiba units, etc.
Please complete this form if you're interested in a VPN account and send it to sao.vpnaccessrequestmis@cookcounty.onmicrosoft.com.
Staff News
Resignations
Natosha Toller, Bureau Chief of the Criminal Division, had her last day with the office last Tuesday.
The SAO thanks Natosha for her work at leading the largest SAO bureau during trying times. Natosha is an example of tireless leadership and commitment to the people she served.
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Promotions
Jane Sack to Supervisor (Felony Trial Division)
Robert Kline to Deputy Supervisor (Juvenile Justice Bureau)
William Nicks to Administrative Team Leader (Grand Jury)
Kathleen Harris to Administrative Supervisor (Criminal Appeals)
Antonio Rubino to Sergeant (Investigations)
Oscar Brown to Sergeant (Investigations)
New Hires
Welcome to the new hires who started on Monday, January 31: Julie Rieske, Francis DeRosa, Nicole Picquette, and Mary Covone
Work Anniversaries
February 4: Christopher Cromydas and Rebecca Gest
February 5: Danielle Mikhail, Jessica Torres, Nahida Kerimli, James Papa, and Tsering Yangzom
February 6: Douglas Harvath, Alyson Miller, Sara Meliss Ondera, Sandra Crowley, and Juan Sanchez
February 7: Kelsang Draggo, Raquel Ledesma, and Lynn Mccarthy
February 9: Michael Bacerott
February 10: John Power, David M. Williams, and Michael Pattarozzi
February 11: Tasha Flagg
February 13: Hortencia Loza, Jennifer Sciortino, Katherine Wright, and Cynthia Zarate
February 14: Neha Locke, Risa Lanier and Dawn Mayoski
February 15: Shalamiyah Brown and Alejandra Garcia Rivera
February 16: Dora Deleon, Reyna Lee, Leida Parker-Sylvester, Elyssa Shull, Kyle Mallon, Shawn Concannon, and April Evans
February 17: Nicole Zarate, Jeanne Weick Kolasa, and Dawn Kurtenbach
February 18: Vicki Killingsworth, Cari Lacour, Elliott Englander, and Destinee Metoyer Montalvo
February 19: Roslynn Hogan, Tyshay Russell, and Christopher Wilson
February 20: Kate Fritzmann and Elizabeth Reilly
February 22: Kenneth Goff and Stephanie Bady-Neal
Internal SAO Resources
Immigration Services
Have a question about immigration? Feel free to contact Immigration Policy & Legal Advisor Michael Kasprzynski, who can answer questions relating to collateral immigration consequences and victim services. The State’s Attorney’s Office is able to certify U Visas and T Visas for qualifying crime victims. More information about SAO immigration services can be found on the SAO website.
SAO Speaker’s Bureau
Did you know the SAO has a Speaker’s Bureau? If you know of a school, religious institution, community group, or organization that needs an overview, the SAO can provide a speaker to the group.
Speakers can speak to the below topics:
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Youth Programs: Choose Not to Lose (Gang Awareness/Prevention), Conflict Resolution, Cyber Safety/Teen Dating Violence, Gang/Drug Awareness/Prevention, Hate Crimes, Identity Theft/ Consumer Fraud, Law for Life and Youth Empowerment
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Adult Programs: Consumer Fraud, Crimes Against Seniors, Cyber Safety for Parents, Domestic Violence, Identity Theft, Hate Crimes, Mortgage Fraud/ Troubled Buildings, and Senior Safety
Please have any interested person or group submit the attached request form to Christine Chan.
If you have been asked to speak at an event, please reach out to Christine who can also make sure you have the resources you need.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Overhaul
Recently, the Department of Education announced a major overhaul to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. For those enrolled, please read the U.S. Department of Education fact sheet to learn more.
Suggestion Box
The anonymous suggestion box is open. Please share any comments, questions, or suggestions with the SAO executive team.
Ethics Questions
Have an ethics question? Please email Meriel Coleman for assistance. Attorneys can also call the ARDC Ethics Inquiry Hotline between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 312-565-2600 or 800-826-8625.
Counseling
Please don’t forget that free counseling is available through the Cook County Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Call 800-327-7451 (TTY 711) to speak to someone confidentially.
Equal Employment Officer
Anyone experiencing or witnessing unlawful harassment, discrimination, or workplace bullying should email Donyelle Gray or call her at 312-603-3645. A copy of the SAO EEO Policy and an EEO Complaint Form can be found on the EEO Officer’s page on the SAO website.
Have any news to share about awards, recognitions, SAO events, criminal justice-related stories, or other personal news? Send the information by clicking here.
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