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Orland Mayor Dodge blasts lies by former Mayor Pekau
Mayor Dodge Statement Following Attack on the Integrity of Public Safety Officials. Lies and distortions by Pekau have been repeated by local media, such as the false claims Mike Henry was “not detained” as a result of the Illinois State Police political raid, or that columnist Ray Hanania claimed Henry “worked for Dodge”
Orland Park, IL (April 6, 2026) – Recently, a former elected official made public comments that attacked the integrity of the Orland Park Police Department. Click to read Pekau’s assertions.
Those comments were made in connection with an active criminal investigation involving Orland Park resident Michael Henry.
“Continuous attempts to undermine the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department not only diminish the integrity of our law enforcement professionals but also erode the trust and safety that our community depends on,” said Mayor Jim Dodge.
“Public safety officers dedicate their lives to protecting residents, responding to emergencies, and maintaining order, often under challenging and unpredictable circumstances. Efforts to discredit their work – whether through misinformation, unfair criticism, or politically motivated narratives – do a disservice to the individuals who serve with honor and to the community that relies on their commitment. It is essential that we recognize their contributions, support their mission, and address concerns through constructive dialogue rather than through actions that weaken public confidence in those sworn to keep us safe.”
Michael Henry Criminal Investigation
Late last year, the Orland Park Police Department received two complaints alleging that Orland Park resident Michael Henry made threats and engaged in harassment directed at a current and former Village elected official.
In February 2025, the Orland Park Police Department referred the matter to an independent outside law enforcement agency to ensure an impartial review and to avoid any perception of bias due to the nature of the allegations and the involvement of public officials.
The Orland Park Police Department was subsequently contacted by a neighboring jurisdiction conducting a related investigation involving Mr. Henry. The Orland Park Police Department advised that the matter had been referred to the outside agency for independent investigation.
Here is a link to an article outlining the charges that have been filed. In an abundance of caution, the arrest and processing associated with this interjurisdictional investigation were conducted at an independent, outside law enforcement agency. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Michael Henry Civil Litigation
The Village of Orland Park has an ongoing civil lawsuit, filed in 2020, in Illinois state court alleging that Michael Henry was responsible for a series of illegal, nuisance robocalls targeting residents. That litigation remains ongoing.
Keith Pekau Cease and Desist Litigation
The recent statement questioning the integrity of public safety officials also referenced ongoing litigation involving former Mayor Keith Pekau. A month ago, the Village secured its fourth court ruling preventing Mr. Pekau from disseminating confidential Village information. The ruling by Judge Caroline K. Moreland followed a similar decision by Judge Neil Cohen, Supervising Judge of the Chancery Division, on February 26, 2026.
On August 7, 2025, Judge Moreland entered a temporary restraining order prohibiting Mr. Pekau from publishing future statements that disclose the Village’s attorney‑client privileged communications and confidential non‑public information contained in Village personnel files. Mr. Pekau’s motion to dissolve that temporary restraining order was denied on January 20, 2026. Each time the Village has sought court relief to prevent the release of confidential information, the court has ruled in the Village’s favor.
The court’s initial action followed an emergency lawsuit filed after Mr. Pekau, who lost reelection in April 2025, published blog and social media posts disclosing sensitive internal documents, details of ongoing litigation and litigation strategy, and non‑public employee information. The Village contends that Mr. Pekau’s conduct violated privacy laws and risked undermining the Village’s position in litigation, potentially exposing taxpayers to increased liability and financial harm. Prior to filing suit, the Village asked Mr. Pekau to voluntarily remove the confidential information; he declined.
The Village has offered to settle the lawsuit on the condition that Mr. Pekau cease disclosing confidential information and return Village records he retained after his term expired. To date, Mr. Pekau has not agreed to those terms. Pekau’s actions have been the subject of Chicago Tribune editorial (available at this link).
The Village of Orland Park remains committed to open, transparent, and responsible governance and will continue to take appropriate legal action when necessary to protect the interests of the Village and its residents.
— Press Release
Click to read Pekau’s response.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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