In the weeks after former Galesburg Police Chief Russell Idle was put on paid administrative leave earlier this year amid allegations of sexual harassment, he asked the city’s legal counsel several times if he would be able to tender his notice of retirement before getting fired.
In a ten-page lawsuit filed in Knox County court, Idle alleges he was told his city retirement benefits would be “safe” and that he would indeed be given the opportunity to retire.
But after being terminated on March 24 for violating the city’s harassment and discrimination policies, ending a 30-year career with the Galesburg Police Department, Idle claims he was then told by city administration it was “too late” for him to retire because the sexual harassment investigation was over.
Per state law, Idle is entitled to his full police pension. However, as an at-will employee who was terminated, he did not receive city retirement benefits including paid health insurance, payment for up to 480 hours of accrued sick time, and two weeks salary.
Idle’s lawsuit asks the court to award him at least $50,000 because he did not receive those benefits.
“Chief Idle reasonably relied on the city’s repeated promises and assurances that Idle would be allowed the opportunity to retire before being terminated,” the lawsuit states.
Assistant City Manager Cathy St. George said the city is aware of the recently filed complaint.
“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment at this time,” St. George said.
On March 4, 11 allegations of sexual harassment against Idle dating back 20 years were reported to the city’s human resources department. On March 6, Idle was notified he was on paid administrative leave. He was required to turn in his badge and his duty weapon, and he was ordered not to have any contact with city staff.
But according to the lawsuit, Idle called City Manager Eric Hanson on March 13 to discuss giving notice of his retirement in order to be able to collect retirement benefits. Hanson did not return the call, according to the complaint.
Idle then called City Attorney Daniel Alcorn on March 15. Idle claims he was told that nobody wanted to deprive Idle of his retirement benefits and that those benefits were “safe.” On March 18, when Idle received notice of a formal interrogation into the allegations to be held March 21, he claims he again called Alcorn and offered to tender notice of his retirement, according to the complaint.
Idle claims his attorney also approached Alcorn prior to the interrogation on March 21 and said that Idle was ready to give immediate notice of his retirement in order to preserve his retirement benefits.
The city released redacted versions of the 11 allegations following the interrogation.
The lawsuit states that Idle has “at all times denied making many of the comments” and that no allegations of sexual harassment came up during the comprehensive search process when he was named chief in 2019.
The lawsuit also questions the motivation behind the sexual harassment investigation.
Idle claims that in 2024 he began to express his “concerns and disagreements” with Hanson on several police department matters, which the lawsuit names as the proposed elimination of a command position, a plan to eliminate some bonuses, and the manner in which Knox County was being billed for 911 services provided by the city.
“By December of 2024, the disagreements between Chief Idle and Eric Hanson had deteriorated their working relationship and created ongoing tension and a level of distrust,” the complaint states.
Idle is represented by Peoria law firm Quinn Johnston.
The city has not yet responded to the complaint in court.
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