Burr Ridge Ordered To Release Cop's DUI Video

BURR RIDGE, IL – Since last year, Burr Ridge maintained it could legally keep secret the video of a top police official's drunken driving arrest in Virginia.

This week, the attorney general's office disagreed. It ordered the village to release the footage.

Last April, then-Deputy Police Chief Ryan Husarik was arrested in suburban Washington, where he was attending the FBI National Academy. He was in a police car.

Virginia state police reported his blood-alcohol level at 2½ times the legal limit in Virginia, which is the same as in Illinois.

Last summer, Burr Ridge denied Patch's request for video of Husarik's arrest. Months after his arrest, Husarik was demoted to sergeant.

In February, Sam Stecklow of the Chicago-based Invisible Institute watchdog group filed a complaint with the attorney general over the denial.

In withholding the footage, the village cited an exemption under the state's open records law for documents relating to a public body's adjudication of an employee's discipline.

Stecklow argued the exception only applies to records generated within the adjudication process, not those considered during the process.

In a rare binding opinion this week, the attorney general agreed.

"The withheld video recording, which documents a police officer's arrest for driving under the influence, plainly predates and exists independently of any adjudication," Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Stratton wrote.

Burr Ridge must either comply with the binding opinion or appeal the matter to Cook County Circuit Court.

In an email to Patch on Thursday, Mayor Gary Grasso said Burr Ridge would abide by the attorney general's ruling.

"Sergeant Husarik owned up to his terrible mistake, paid a high personal and professional price and perseveres," the mayor said. "Ryan is back to doing his job – protecting the residents and businesses of Burr Ridge. Unfortunately, there are those who will not let him be."

Patch filed a new request for the video Thursday.

Virginia state police also decided to keep the video secret.