Illinois still trying to fire corrections official for second time

[January 16, 2015]  By Scott Reeder
 
 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State officials still want to fire a man with a troubled work history, criminal convictions and a history of street gang affiliations from his $111,432-a-year job in the Illinois system.

But a state arbitrator has ruled Xadrian McCraven deserves his job back. Why he ruled that way remains a bit of a mystery.

Illinois Department of Corrections
Illinois Department of Corrections
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Xadrian McCraven is still on the job with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Why? Who knows.
Tom Shaer, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, said the agency couldn’t release its copy of the decision because the matter remains under appeal. And Anders Lindall, spokesman for the union representing McCraven did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 represent McCraven.

Shaer said McCraven has a long and troubled history working for the state. In fact, he has been fired twice from state jobs.

Corrections officials fired McCraven in January 2014 after a newspaper reported he had been arrested many times. He’d previously been fired, in 2012, from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Published reports indicated he was fired in 2012 after it came to light that he had been sending hundreds of lewd and inappropriate emails.

McCraven appealed that firing, and Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration decided to rehire him because of the cost of fighting the appeal, Shaer said.

The Quinn administration reassigned him to the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he was to make sure parole officers were using their time appropriately. But the Department of Corrections fired him in 2014.

A source familiar with McCraven’s situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said McCraven had failed to disclose on his application to the Department of Corrections that he had multiple convictions expunged from his record.

McCraven again appealed the firing, and an arbitrator ruled he should be reinstated.

Shaer said his agency is appealing this decision and continues to its effort to get him off the state payroll.

McCraven has donated $1,500 to state Democratic candidates. And the Chicago Sun-Times has reported the former gang member was on a list compiled by Rod Blagojevich’s administration of politically connected job candidates.

On Monday, Bruce Rauner became governor. How his administration will deal with the matter remains to be seen.

Lance Trover, a spokesman for Rauner, told Illinois News Network on Wednesday, “Situations like these are compelling reasons why there needs to be a comprehensive review of the state’s personnel laws and procedures and meaningful reforms proposed.”

McCraven declined comment Wednesday when contacted by INN.

[This article courtesy of Watchdog.]