Contested Case Process

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ILEA opens an investigation and requests investigative agency reports about the officer. This process continues until ILEA receives all the information.
ILEA investigators notify the officer of the inquiry. The officer is given an opportunity to provide a response to the inquiry.

Council reviews the case in closed session. The Council can decide to:

Administratively close the case.
Send the case back to ILEA investigators for more information.
Find that a technical violation occurred, but determine not to pursue formal discipline at this time.
File a petition to decertify.

The officer is notified of the Council’s decision.
When a case is moved forward, the State and the Officer will discuss whether a settlement is possible. If so, a settlement document is signed to present to the Council for approval.
If a settlement is not reached, a petition to decertify is filed and a hearing date is scheduled. A petition to decertify is not a public document until it is signed and notice is provided to the officer. Investigative information contained within a petition to decertify is confidential.
An Administrative Law Judge with the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing conducts the hearing. A proposed decision is typically issued within 60 days of the hearing.
The proposed decision becomes the Council's final order unless the officer, the State, or the Council moves to review it within 30 days.

If the proposed decision is not appealed, it becomes the final decision.
If the proposed decision is appealed, the Council will hear the appeal and issue a final decision.

This process can take several months or even longer. If the officer has been charged with a crime, it could delay the Academy Council's inquiry.