$200K bond for Downers Grove cop charged with misconduct
(WHEATON) Bond was set at $200,000 Friday for a Downers Grove police officer charged with official misconduct for allegedly using police software for personal use.
Randall J. Caudill Jr., 34, was arrested and charged with four counts of official misconduct, according to a Thursday release from the DuPage County Sheriff's office. Official misconduct is a Class 3 felony.
DuPage County State's Attorney's office spokesman Paul Darrah said Caudill, of Bolingbrook, was arrested Thursday after allegations he used his position as a police officer for purposes other than official police business on four separate occasions while using police software to run license plates.
DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan set bond at $200,000 at a Friday morning hearing in Wheaton.
"The allegations against Mr. Caudill are very serious," State's Attorney Joe Birkett said in the release. "I would like to stress however, that these allegations are levied against an individual police officer and not an entire department. The Downers Grove Police Department is one of the finest departments in the state. This appears to be an isolated incident and no other officers were involved."
An arraignment hearing is set for Aug. 16, but Caudill's lawyer will make a motion to reduce bond Monday, Darrah said.
Sheriff's police received information of illegal activity involving the officer and made the arrest, the release said. Downers Grove police and the state's attorney's office also investigated.
"It is the responsibility of law enforcement to identify and weed out its own bad apples if we wish to maintain the respect and support of our citizens," DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba said.
