The Crystal Lake Park District will end extra security months after the measures were implemented and the board president was called paranoid for wearing a bulletproof vest because “it’s a scary world.”
The Crystal Lake Park District said additional safety measures were put in place for its board meeting on September 21.
A notice said participants entering the board meeting, which was held at the Crystal Lake Main Beach Pavilion, had to go through metal detector screening “for the safety of all participants.”
“Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive early to allow enough time to complete the screening process prior to the start of the meeting,” the notice said.
The notice also said that attendees were recommended to avoid bringing bags as they would be subject to search.
“Clear bags are recommended. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone,” the notice said.
Crystal Lake Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster said five Crystal Lake Park District Police Department officers were present at the September board meeting.
The officers manned weapon detection scanners to screen people as they entered the building. The extra officers and the weapons detection scanners have been used at the four prior meetings since September.
Herbster said Crystal Lake Park District President Frederick Tiesenga also requested a bulletproof vest, which was provided to him to wear during board meetings.
“The enhanced measures were requested by the Board President based on the contentiousness at previous Board meetings and anger towards the Board regarding previous action taken at Board meetings,” Herbster said.
Commissioner Cathy Cagle asked Tiesenga during the September meeting if he could work on finding ways that help him feel “safe and secure” that cost less money.
“That’s what we’re doing. Right now I have a bulletproof vest on,” Tiesenga said, to which Cagle replied, “Good for you… I don’t.”
Tiesenga said it is a “scary world we’re living in” and “you can’t be too careful.”
At one point during the meeting, an attendee asked why the park district has to pay for the board president’s “paranoia.”
Commissioner Michael Jacobson said some of the security measures, including the metal detector, were “overkill” and said he does not feel unsafe.
Tiesenga said he’s been characterized on social media as a “Nazi” and “fascist.”
“This is right out of the Democratic liberal playbook of how you dehumanize somebody,” he said, immediately drawing uproar from community members who attended the meeting.
“So the fact that you’re booing right now is my exact point… I’m getting called and the board’s been getting called Nazis, fascists… we’ve been hearing all kinds of heckling. I’ve been having people mouth swear words at me during meetings. I’ve been having people like make fists at me during meetings,” Tiesenga said.
The board president then told the crowd that everything in the room was being recorded. “Every face you’re making is being recorded and we’re going to have to have a civil meeting.”
“That means you can’t threaten people, you can’t make people feel uncomfortable. And if I feel uncomfortable, I’m uncomfortable,” Tiesenga said.
He said it was “very reasonable” to have metal detectors and to have extra police at the board meeting.
During the board’s latest meeting on Monday, the board voted 4-3 to end the extra security measures starting at its next meeting in January by reducing the police presence to one officer and removing the weapons detection devices.
Tiesenga said that meetings have been “much calmer” since the extra security measures were put in place but still voted against ending the extra security measures.