HARVARD – A former Harvard police officer is free on bond following charges that he forged doctors' documents regarding a "serious health condition."
Phillip Held, 33, of Poplar Grove, was indicted Oct. 4 on 24 separate counts – 12 each of forgery and official misconduct.
He turned himself in to the McHenry County Jail on Friday and was released after posting the required 10 percent of his $40,000 bond.
On an almost monthly basis starting in November 2011, Held allegedly made or altered documents he purported to be from several doctors regarding his own medical care as well as that of his children and wife.
The documents included a Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition, which is terminology used for Family and Medical Leave Act paperwork. Harvard Police Chief Dan Kazy-Garey said Held was terminated in August as a result of the criminal investigation.
Held had been with the department for about 11 years as a patrol officer. Kazy-Garey declined to comment further on the case but said that he personally conducted the internal probe. "We handled the investigation because an agency has to maintain its integrity and to have public trust," he said, adding that an impartial mindset is important.
Every police department has internal investigations, Kazy-Garey said, but in his nearly 30 years with Harvard none have previously ended with the indictment of his own officer. "Nor do I ever look forward to that situation ever again," he said. Held's next scheduled court date is Friday when he is scheduled for arraignment.
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