Trial date set for Will County deputy charged with disorderly conduct at St. Mary school in Mokena

A trial date has been set for July 18 for Will County sheriff deputy Edward Goewey, who was charged with disorderly conduct after a December incident inside a Mokena Catholic school.

Goewey went to St. Mary Catholic School, 11409 W. 195th St., Dec. 3, where his children attended, requesting a student who made a shooting threat be removed from school. According to the Mokena police report, Goewey said that he did not feel the matter was addressed properly and tapped his hip indicating he had a concealed firearm.

Goewey, 46, and his attorney Bob Bodach received documents Tuesday in Will County court containing communications between the staff and administration of St. Mary Catholic School and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet. Bodach asked for communications regarding the potential violent threat and the incident regarding Goewey.

Bodach unsuccessfully sought April 11 to have Judge Brian E. Barrett dismiss the case, saying that the actions do not rise to the level of disorderly conduct.

According to Mokena police, Goewey was told by school officials Dec. 3 his coming to the building was not the appropriate way to voice his concerns, was asked to leave and told to make an appointment with the principal. Goewey insisted the child who had made the shooting threat should be removed from the class until assurances could be made that he did not pose a threat and “continued to yell and argue refusing to leave,” the police report said.

Goewey eventually left on his own accord, but school officials told police that they were “disturbed and alarmed by Goewey’s erratic behavior,” the police report said.

Bill Nason, who was one of 10 supporters of Goewey who attended the Tuesday’s court appearance, said he believed the incident did not warrant charges and believed Goewey had the students’ safety in mind.

“I don’t think what happened to him is justified,” Nason said. “He had the right motives in what he was doing. I don’t understand why the Catholic church is pursuing the charges. I don’t understand why it’s gone this far.”

An email to parents from St. Mary Catholic School and the Joliet Diocese said the administration was made aware Dec. 1 of a statement by a student that could be construed as a threat. The school counselor spoke with the student and determined no credible threat existed, the email said.

Officers interviewed the student and parents and reported no sign of threatening behavior and it was determined that neither the student nor the parents own a firearm, according to an email from St. Mary administration to its parents.

The school’s and diocese’s joint message to parents Dec. 9 said the diocese’s Catholic schools office adopted a crisis communication plan in 2017 but it does not include a crisis management policy.

Since this incident, the Catholic schools office has issued written protocols for situations involving potential threats to its schools, including immediately reporting the threat to the police, the pastor, the diocesan attorney and the superintendent of schools, the joint message said.

The message states the protocols will also inform the parents of the student in question that the student may not return until a written psychological or psychiatric evaluation is received stating the student is not a danger to him or herself and others. Other protocols include communicating to all school parents and working with diocesan officials to manage the situation.

St. Mary Catholic School has more than 450 students in preschool through eighth grade.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.