Joliet Detective Fired By Police Chief Bill Evans, Arrested By His Own Police Department 13 Months Ago

JOLIET, IL — After being on paid administrative leave from the Joliet Police Department for the past 13 months, Joliet Detective Pete Ranstead was notified on Monday morning that he is being recommended for termination by Police Chief Bill Evans and the command staff, Joliet Patch has confirmed.

“Today, Detective Peter Ranstead was formally notified of his termination from the Joliet Police Department following an extensive internal investigation into an alleged domestic battery incident that occurred in September of 2024," Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans announced in a statement issued Monday evening in response to Joliet Patch's inquiry. "The Joliet Police Department is built on accountability and ethical conduct, both on and off duty. As Chief, I will continue leading a department that upholds those principles and earns the trust of our community through integrity and service. The citizens of Joliet deserve nothing less.”

Ranstead's termination comes exactly two months after Joliet Patch published an exclusive story, revealing that Ranstead had received approximately $104,835 for being on administrative paid leave from Joliet through the end of August.

In addition, Ranstead was paid several thousand extra dollars in other forms of compensation allowed under his Fraternal Order of Police collective bargaining agreement with Joliet. Even though Ranstead remained on paid administrative leave, in January, he received a $2,100 court stipend, a $4,430 holiday pay stipend and a $750 plain clothes allowance, since Joliet detectives typically don't wear a standard uniform to work.

Back on Oct. 2, 2024, Joliet Patch broke the news surrounding Ranstead's arrest, after fellow Joliet police were called to his home in the Kendall County portion of Joliet the previous weekend. Ranstead was arrested and charged in Kendall County with two counts of domestic battery and one count of interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

At 12:12 a.m. Sept. 28, 2024, Joliet officers responded to the off-duty detective's house on Woodiris Drive for a domestic disturbance. Officers learned that a confrontation happened at the home involving Ranstead, now 42, and a woman, now 29.

"It is alleged that during an argument, Ranstead grabbed the victim by her shoulders and forced her toward the doorway of a second story bedroom. It is believed Ranstead then pushed the victim out of the room, causing her to strike her head on an adjacent door frame," Joliet's arrest report stated.

The victim forced her way back into the bedroom and tried to call 911, at which time police said Ranstead took the phone from her, the arrest reports reflect. Three days later, Joliet police obtained an arrest warrant for their fellow detective, and Ranstead turned himself in shortly after 6 a.m. the following day at the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office in Yorkville.

This past May 19, Ranstead's victim filed a written order of protection in connection with her husband's criminal case at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville.

"Peter's violent behavior began on Easter Sunday approximately two years ago when he punched a hole in our bedroom wall at our previous residence. He did so during an argument. Peter has a significant history of emotional abuse as well as manipulation," she wrote.

"From the beginning of our relationship, Peter demonstrated deeply rooted insecurities about me in regards to social expectations, job expectations and friends that I had. He tried to dictate how I lived my life. In June of 2024, Peter struck me in the face with a metal pizza pan. I had a large bruise on my jaw leading into my neck the days following. He denied ever hitting me and never took accountability and never apologized."

The woman explained in her order of protection that "In February of 2025, I had another incident with Peter that was not physical but he was in violation of his court order of 'no offensive contact' when he unlocked my daughter's locked bedroom and grabbed my laptop from me while I was sitting with our son ... He then became defensive and raised his voice saying that he could come into the house whenever he wants. Because I did a past domestic abuse interview, he will soon find out because it will be put into discovery and due to his unpredictable behavior, I do not feel secure and safe in the house. He has also admitted to driving by the house and checking to see if I was home. Another time, I caught him leaving the neighborhood when I was not at the home."