Oct. 20, 2025 – From Robert Baish, President, Plainfield Fire Protection District Board of Trustees

To the Residents of the Plainfield Community,

I would like to share some information with the community about a matter that our Board has been managing for nearly two and a half years. The matter involves former Chief Jon Stratton and his management of District finances and resources.

Because law enforcement agencies and prosecutors have completed their work to this point, I am able to share information in order to keep our residents informed and provide an accounting of what has taken place.

It brings us no joy to disclose this information about Mr. Stratton’s conduct while he served as Chief of the Plainfield Fire Protection District (PFPD). We know that in many respects, Mr. Stratton served our community honorably and is beloved by many residents and the men and women whom he led.

However, we also know that this matter has been the subject of much speculation, and we are pleased to finally be able to set the record straight.

In summary, the Board became aware in May 2023 of potential financial misconduct by then­Chief Stratton, who has since acknowledged that he directed tens of thousands of dollars intended for the District into a personal account. The funds in question were proceeds from the sale of District assets (vehicles and other equipment) that had been donated by private and public entities to PFPD for the purposes of aiding in training exercises.

What follows is a brief description of what we learned, when we learned about it, and what steps we have taken so that the matter could be properly investigated by law enforcement.

On May 23, 2023, the Board of Trustees became aware that then Chief Stratton had allegedly deposited the proceeds from the sale of several donated vehicles into a personal bank account – ­not the District’s accounts as was expected and required. The Board immediately began to examine the allegations.

At a meeting with Chief Stratton on May 25, 2023, just days after learning of the potential misconduct, he acknowledged that he sold donated vehicles at auction and deposited the proceeds into a private trust account in his name (not the District’s).

Shortly after making this acknowledgement, Chief Stratton wrote a check to the District in the amount of $31,350 to cover the costs for items he sold at auction and directed into his personal account. The District did not deposit the funds and instead provided them to investigators.
The PFPD Board of Trustees called a special meeting on May 30, 2023, to discuss the matter. Later that day, Chief Stratton tendered his resignation.

The Board immediately notified the Village of Plainfield Police Department, which ultimately referred the matter to the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit. The Illinois State Police conducted an investigation and recently presented its findings to the Will County State’s Attorney.

Last week, we were informed by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office that it would not file any criminal charges against Mr. Stratton, assuming Stratton reimbursed the District $54,250.

As you would expect, this issue has weighed heavily on our Board and the men and women who serve you every day and on every call for service. It was difficult not sharing information publicly given that we were asked not to make any public comments in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Finally, I am pleased that the Plainfield Fire Protection District and its Board of Trustees have managed this matter in a way that reflects our values and our commitment to integrity and professionalism. When we learned of the wrongdoing, we took immediate action, notified law enforcement, and assisted investigators during their lengthy and thorough investigation. We have also implemented new policies and accountability procedures regarding the donation of vehicles and equipment to the Plainfield Fire Protection District.

It is never easy to share unpleasant news, but we feel it is something we must do to keep residents informed. If you have questions about this matter, please reach out to our Board of Trustees via the District’s general email address at plfd_fire@plainfieldfpd.com, and we will work to provide answers.

Sincerely,

Robert Baish
President, Board of Trustees
Plainfield Fire Protection District