CHICAGO — A former sergeant with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has launched a federal lawsuit against Sheriff John D. Idleburg and State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, claiming he faced demotion due to his political support for a candidate in last year’s election. Deputy Ari Briskman, who is seeking reinstatement to his prior rank along with back pay and damages, contends this action was a politically motivated retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, alleges that Briskman was stripped of his rank just a day after the Nov. 5 election, where he endorsed Republican Mary Cole against Rinehart, a Democrat and ally of Idleburg. In addition to the demotion, Briskman lost his special assignments, including his role as leader of the sheriff’s Marine Unit, responsible for patrolling local waters.
Briskman’s attorney, Keith L. Hunt, emphasized that the demotion not only affected Briskman’s position but also led to a significant financial loss for his family. “To punish a man’s family simply because he didn’t support your buddy’s candidacy is wrong on every level. It’s petty, it’s vindictive and it’s unconstitutional,” Hunt stated.
In response to the lawsuit, Idleburg noted that Briskman, as an active employee, has the right to pursue legal action. He expressed confidence in the legality of his actions and indicated the office would address the matter appropriately through the judicial system. Rinehart echoed that sentiment, stating that while they cannot comment on ongoing litigation, they anticipate a favorable outcome in court.
At the heart of the controversy is a photograph showing Briskman conversing with Cole during a visit to her law office in Gurnee. According to court documents, the image was shared by Cole’s campaign, which Briskman consented to use under the condition that it would not display his face or include “Lake County” on his uniform. A version of the image included in the lawsuit depicts Briskman’s back to the camera while he engages with Cole.
Hunt argues that the sheriff misrepresented the photo’s significance, claiming it tarnished the image of the sheriff’s office and suggested Briskman’s actions lent support to Cole’s campaign. However, Hunt clarified that Briskman’s participation was as a private citizen, an action protected under the First Amendment.
The lawsuit alleges that Idleburg and Rinehart coordinated efforts to facilitate a complaint against Briskman regarding his appearance in the campaign materials, discussing the incident prior to the decision to demote him.
As of now, the case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Martha M. Pacold, but no hearing dates have been set.
This is not the first time Briskman has made headlines; he received the inaugural Daniel R. Stafiej Memorial Illinois Drug Recognition Expert of the Year Award in October 2023 for his work in detecting impaired drivers.
In a wider context, the Lake County area is also seeing developments in law enforcement capabilities. The sheriff’s Marine Unit is enhancing its fleet, adding two Jet Skis at no cost through partnerships with Kawasaki and Nielsen Enterprises. The new watercraft will enhance patrol efficiency across various water bodies, enabling faster response times to emergencies.
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