An eight-year conflict between Oak Lawn firefighters and Village Manager Larry Deetjen, primarily revolving around staffing disputes, has now escalated into serious allegations including "phone sex," "theft of union funds," and "sex acts during work hours." The situation has taken a dramatic turn as the Village of Oak Lawn recently released a statement regarding a legal move by firefighter and former union leader Bob Lanz.

Lanz filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to halt or delay the village’s investigation into whether he violated policies against sexual harassment. According to the press release, the village became aware of information suggesting that a firefighter/paramedic may have engaged in phone sex while on duty multiple times, which is strictly prohibited. The statement emphasized that no employee should be forced to endure such situations at work.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects employment decisions. However, what makes this case unusual is that no employee has officially complained about Lanz’s behavior. The only reference to harassment in the press release was a general concern about employees witnessing or hearing inappropriate acts during work hours.

Lanz is currently serving a five-day suspension, which he is challenging through his union. He previously held a high-ranking position in union negotiations involving minimum staffing levels. According to an anonymous source, Deetjen initially accused Lanz of misusing union funds and even reported the matter to the Cook County State’s Attorney. However, it was later revealed that these were not public funds, and neither the union leadership nor the village had raised any formal complaints.

Deetjen reportedly claimed that a disgruntled firefighter had contacted the police, leading to an investigation. The union is now representing Lanz in his dispute with the village. After reviewing the case, the Cook County State’s Attorney found no evidence to support criminal charges against Lanz. This is not the first time Deetjen has made high-profile accusations that failed to hold up under scrutiny.

Soon after the lack of evidence was confirmed, Deetjen shifted focus to an allegation that Lanz was being investigated for a "sex act" while on duty. What was initially described as a "sex act" has since been clarified as "phone sex." According to our source, Deetjen lacks direct evidence of such activity but has labeled certain calls as "sex acts." To date, no other employee has filed a formal complaint about harassment, though the village referred to the alleged behavior as "sexual misconduct."

A source familiar with the case revealed that Deetjen reviewed union documents and cross-checked expenses with online searches, identifying two charges linked to companies offering phone sex services. As a result, the fire chief ordered Lanz to provide his personal cell phone records and credit card statements for further investigation.

A week ago, Lanz received two disciplinary notices. One of them was a formal "Notice of Interrogation and Order" requiring him to produce financial records related to "inappropriate transactions and activities while on duty." This triggered a legal response from Lanz, who filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to delay the disclosure of his records.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larson denied the motion, stating that Lanz would not suffer irreparable harm if the order wasn't granted. She also advised the village to wait until January 7th before proceeding with the interrogation. At the time of this report, it remained unclear whether the village would follow her recommendation.

Thanks, Dan

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