Nearly two years after his unlawful termination, Sergeant William Sanchez returned to work this week at the Village of Orland Park, where he had previously served as a police officer for nearly two decades. Sergeant Sanchez regained his job through settlement of a lawsuit HSPRD filed on his behalf, alleging that the Village unlawfully fired him because he complained about being denied a promotion because of his race. The settlement requires the Village to pay Sergeant Sanchez over $500,000 and to return him as a sergeant in good standing with a clean record.
Sergeant Sanchez, an officer for nearly two decades, reported concerns about racially charged conduct by other officers who later received promotions. He then filed formal discrimination complaints in 2023. The department fired him in January 2024 after he raised these issues. Following a grievance brought by Sergeant Sanchez’s union and attorneys for the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, an arbitrator later ruled that the Village did not have just cause for the termination.
HSPRD Partner Justin Tresnowski, who represents Sergeant Sanchez, confirmed that Sergeant Sanchez will finally return to work as an Orland Park officer with a clean record, nearly two years after his termination and nearly a year after the arbitrator’s ruling. Tresnowski also said the settlement is a fair one, providing compensation to Sergeant Sanchez for the years away from work while ensuring that the Village will not waste any more taxpayer funds on the matter.
With the case resolved, Sanchez will resume his duties and continue his decades of exemplary service to the people of Orland Park.
Read our previous news article here.
Read the Chicago Sun Times article here.
The complaints can be read here.
