Burr Ridge Touches On Official's DUI Arrest

BURR RIDGE, IL – Perhaps one of Burr Ridge's biggest news events last year was the arrest of its deputy police chief on a drunken-driving charge while in a police car in Virginia.

But village officials did not utter a word about it during an open Village Board meeting.

Until last week.

It was during a discussion about the village's alcohol and drug policy for employees.

Trustee Russell Smith suggested the board strengthen its rules by calling for the termination of employees who violate the policy. He referred to the "unfortunate incident" last year.

"I just think we can't leave loose ends in these documents if, in fact, we have issues with employees that are abusing our drug and alcohol policy," he said.

Mayor Gary Grasso said he understood Smith's point, but wasn't sure whether the village could legally make a termination automatic.

"I can't think of any, but there might be extenuating circumstances," the mayor said.

Smith said the reference to "work days" in the alcohol and drug policy may be considered an escape hatch for last year's arrest. That was when the deputy police chief was out of state and off the clock during FBI training.

Grasso said he did not believe there was a loophole.

"That individual, as far as I am concerned, was working those days. He was on village business when it happened," the mayor said.

On April 15, then-Deputy Chief Ryan Husarik, who was later demoted to sergeant, was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in suburban Washington, where he was attending the FBI National Academy.

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

Husarik, a Lemont resident, was driving a police car when he was arrested, the village said.

Last June, Patch broke the news of Husarik's arrest. The village later hired a "crisis" public relations firm to contain the fallout.

Upon request, Burr Ridge released the Virginia police report to Patch, but decided to keep the arrest video secret. Virginia authorities have also chosen to keep the footage under wraps.