Kane County sheriff's actions before police shooting led to 'unfortunate loss of life,' Aurora mayor says

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain recently criticized Aurora police, saying they were too passive and “reactive” in trying to arrest a suspect the night before he was fatally shot by Hain's deputies during of a violent clash in broad daylight on the Batavia-Geneva border. year.

Among other things, Hain called Aurora police “clowns.”

Today, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin strongly objects to Hain's remarks — many of which were included in a recent Chicago Sun-Times article about the events leading up to the fatal shooting of Jim Moriarty on May 24, 2023 – essentially blaming Hain for the death. confrontation because he “compromised” an Aurora police undercover operation the night before that could have led to Moriarty's arrest without loss of life.

“The mistake that caused this unfortunate loss of life was his and his alone,” Irvin said at an Aurora City Council meeting last week, referring to Hain. “And he should accept responsibility for it, instead of spreading misplaced and baseless conjecture, rumors and insinuations.”

“The events that followed 'the botched surveillance operation' were unfortunate and likely avoidable if Sheriff Hain himself, who was not on the scene himself, had let our officers do their job.”

Hain called similar sentiments expressed by Moriarty's family and friends “ridiculous.”

Asked about Irvin's comments, Hain told the Sun-Times this weekend: “You're listening to people who have no idea what they're talking about and no evidence behind it.” »

“Irvin’s comments were reckless and inappropriate. We towed the car based on our case and arrested the offender after a week of chaos. That's the end of the story.

While Moriarty's shooting death was a year ago, the investigation into it has only just concluded, with Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser soon expected to decide whether criminal charges are warranted against the police or against anyone.

As the Sun-Times recently reported, Aurora police launched a covert surveillance operation in the city on May 23, 2023, quietly watching Moriarty's car that was parked near his apartment, waiting for him to come out. to be able to stop it using the element of surprise. .

He had been involved in a series of car chases and was the subject of “active arrest warrants for robbery and aggravated fleeing and eluding,” records show. Family and friends said his mental health had deteriorated and that he had recently returned to heavy drug use after a year and a half of sobriety. He had apparently attempted suicide shortly before following a drug overdose.

Moriarty, who grew up in Alsip, was at his nearby apartment, but Aurora police did not want to burst in and force a confrontation or unnecessarily escalate matters given the uncertainty over whether he had a gun. fire and his recent remarks about committing suicide. by a cop.

Then Kane County sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene in marked patrol cars, oblivious to surveillance or Aurora's request to stay away. They said they were there to seize the car on “orders from the sheriff.”

This destroyed the surveillance operation and work hours put in by the Aurora Police Department. When Moriarty came out of his apartment the next morning to find that his car was missing, he carjacked a woman at a local Jiffy Lube and got into a chase with sheriff's police that ended with him being shot. head by police officers at a busy intersection, Fabyan Parkway and Randall Road.

The Sun-Times published details of Aurora police reports that criticized Hain for allegedly making matters worse indirectly, but it in turn criticized Aurora police for simply “sitting” on Hain's car. Moriarty the night before his death.

“This type of police work involves getting someone to engage in a chase,” Hain said. “I would say they made it worse…get a warrant and go into the apartment…grab the guy.”

He stated that he stood by his actions to “take away that weapon”, meaning Moriarty's vehicle, although he also stated that he apologized because he did not didn't realize Aurora's level of surveillance when he ordered his men inside.

Irvin, a former Republican candidate for governor who as mayor oversees the Aurora Police Department, said after reading Hain's remarks in the newspaper that he could not let them “go without answer “.

“Our officers waited near Moriarty’s parked car to arrest him as safely as possible as he attempted to gain access to his vehicle,” Irvin said. “Unfortunately, this operation was compromised when sheriff's deputies, acting under direct orders from Sheriff Hain himself, appeared on scene and seized Moriarty's vehicle – despite our officers' immediate explanation of what was happening. what they were doing as part of the APD operation and why. »

“I completely disagree with Sheriff Hain…there is nothing 'reactive' about attempting to arrest a suspect using a coordinated effort with the least amount of force and exposing the subject, as well that our officers, in the least possible danger. Not only is it good police work, but it saves lives.

“Just as Sheriff Hain apologized for his actions following what followed, he should apologize for his reckless and consequential directives that night and for his continued attacks on the Aurora Police Department one year later.”

Irvin would not comment beyond his public remarks.