On May 14, 2018, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office arrested former Champaign Police Officer Justus Clinton on charges of Residential and Motor Vehicle Burglary.
Following Clinton’s arrest, the Champaign Police Department has received a number of FOIA requests related to his separation agreement, which was executed prior to the incident for unrelated violations of Departmental rules.
In keeping with the City’s commitment to transparency, the below information and employee files for Justus Clinton are being released to the public. These documents include, but are not limited to, internal investigation materials regarding violations of multiple department rules, including:
• Department Rule 1D (4c): General Conduct and Fitness—Devoting Full Time Attention and Training to Duty
• Department Rule 2A (1): Communication, Information, and Records—Truthfulness in Communication
• Department Rule 6B (1, 2, and 3): Physical and Mental Fitness for Duty—Alcohol and Controlled Substances
On September 30, 2017, Clinton, who was serving as an instructor during a Department firearms training, was observed by coworkers as displaying erratic behavior and having an odor of alcohol on his person. Clinton was subsequently removed from his duties, interviewed, and ordered to submit to drug and alcohol testing, which revealed Clinton to have tested positive for alcohol. As a result, Clinton’s police powers were immediately suspended and he was placed on Investigative Leave.
The internal investigation examined Clinton’s September 30, 2017 actions and concluded that Clinton had violated Champaign Police Department Rules 1, 2 and 6. At the conclusion of the investigation, Clinton was issued a 1-month or (16) working day suspension without pay, and entered into a “Last Chance Agreement” with the City that required him to adhere to specific terms in order to maintain employment, including compliance with rehabilitative treatment, abstaining from all drug and alcohol use, and submitting to random drug and alcohol testing. Clinton returned to patrol duties on February 20, 2018.
On March 13, 2018, Clinton reported for patrol duty and was noted by a police employee as having an odor of alcohol on his person. A portable breath test was administered to Clinton by a police Lieutenant, and after a positive Breath Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test, Clinton was taken to the hospital for further testing, which confirmed the presence of alcohol. Clinton was immediately placed on Investigative Leave, his police powers were again suspended, and he did not serve the Department in any capacity after the March 13 offense.
On April 30, 2018, Clinton was placed on Unpaid Administrative Leave as a result of his violation of the Last Chance Agreement, and on May 8, Clinton and the City of Champaign entered into a Separation Agreement and Release. Though Clinton remained on unpaid employment status, the agreement allowed Clinton to use previously accrued benefit time through May 21, 2018.
The associated reports, media requests, and related personnel documents have been made available for public review, including:
• Champaign Police Department Rules
• September 30, 2017 Internal Investigation:
• Clinton Placement on Investigative Leave
• Internal Investigation Report
• Brady Violation Letter to Champaign County State’s Attorney
• Brady Violation Letter to United States Attorney – Central District of Illinois
• Last Chance Agreement Between the City of Champaign and Justus Clinton
• March 13, 2018 Internal Investigation:
• Clinton Placement on Investigative Leave
• Last Chance Agreement Violation
• Justus Clinton Separation Agreement and Release
Related News Release: Champaign Police Provide Information Regarding Employee Arrest