Fix is in - in Lake County

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While looking at the homepage of the Chicago Tribune just now for reports on the number of shootings and murders in Chicago, I read how Lake County handles allegations of stolen political signs.

A little differently than in McHenry County, where all it apparently takes for an arrested suspect to be cut loose (without being charged) is for his boss to call a prominent lawyer who calls the sheriff, who lets it roll downhill from there to a detective to give the suspect, freed of his handcuffs, a ride back to his car 15 miles away.

What happens in Lake County? Ms. Patricia Fix gets elected - she is the Fix who is "in" in Lake County.

Well, first, the person, a lawyer accused of stealing signs but who hasn't been charged, is an assistant state's attorney in the Lake County (Ill.) State's Attorney's Office. She had political signs of an opponent in her vehicle. She says she had them because an overzealous supporter had taken them. She was placed on unpaid administrative leave on November 1.

Obviously, what she should have done - immediately - when her supporter showed up and wanted to give her the signs, was to call her opponent and explain what happened. She should have ordered the supporter to take the signs directly to the opponent. Well, duh....  But to keep them in her car?

Compare how sign theft is handled in Lake County with how it's handled by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.

Lake County - attorney gets put on unpaid leave. Investigation underway.
McHenry County - sign company employee gets arrested, but then not charged and turned loose.

Lake County - newspaper reports
McHenry County - not a word in the newspaper

Lake County - matter proceeds through channels
McHenry County - MCSD acts as cop, judge, jury - all before suspect even gets to jail

I am reminded of the day in 2010 when I was driving down Route 47 toward Huntley and spotted a damaged political sign of opponent Mike Mahon, pulled out of the ground and left there to blow away. I guess I should have picked up the sign and put it in my car (and just waited until the next time I saw Mike somewhere (if ever)). Instead, I called Mike and told him about his sign. And Mike would have done the same for me.