A former Illinois Supreme Court justice will chair the review panel for NIU Police Chief Donald Grady.

In a statement released Thursday, the Office of Public Affairs announced that John L. Nickels will lead “an independent advisory panel with expertise in police and justice administration.”

Joining Nickels on the committee is Marlon C. Lynch, associate vice president for safety and security at the University of Chicago, and Robert T. Marshall, Jr., a retired higher education administrator who recently served as vice president for student services at South Suburban College in South Holland.

At least one more member will be appointed to the panel, but the statement does not list details.

According to the statement, the panel will have access to “all records and sources of information necessary to evaluate the allegations” that were made in an Oct. 8 editorial by the Northern Star.

Because it is a personnel issue, the advisory proceedings of the review panel will remain private, the statement reads. The panel will then present its findings and recommendations to NIU President John Peters and Eddie Williams, executive vice president of finance and facilities and chief operating officer. At that point, the final decision will be made public.

THE PANEL MEMBERS

Nickels served on the Illinois Supreme Court from 1992 to 1998. He has served as a circuit court and appellate court judge. According to his profile on the Illinois Supreme Court Web site, he has practiced law for over 20 years in Kane County.

In addition to being on staff at the University of Chicago, Lynch is the chief of police there. Lynch also serves as the president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

Marshall is a member of the American Association for Counseling and Development.

BACKGROUND

On Oct. 8, the Star published an editorial that called for Grady to be removed from his position as NIU Police Chief. Later that evening, the university announced that “it acknowledges the assertions and concerns raised [in the editorial].”

Grady was placed on leave Friday pending a 30-day review of his performance. Williams said in a statement Sunday that an outside review panel will handle the situation.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen told the DeKalb Daily Chronicle Saturday that he supports the removal of Grady, a stance he reiterated Wednesday in a Star article.

The University Police have been asked to comment on the Star’s coverage of Grady and the situation itself. They have declined and are forwarding all questions and comments to Williams.

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