Village hall worker charged with stealing bail money

First reported 10/14/2009 5:08 p.m.

A former employee of the Forest Park Police Department appeared in court Tuesday to answer to felony charges that she stole about $6,000 from the municipality.

According to a spokesman for the Cook County state’s attorney, Theresa “Terry” McReady, 51, pleaded not guilty Oct. 13 to two counts of felony theft and one count of official misconduct. McReady is accused of skimming bail money and local fines paid to the police department. According to the prosecutor’s office, the scheme is alleged to have been going on between Nov. 14 and May 13.

McReady was arrested July 23, according to county investigators.

Deputy Police Chief Tom Aftanas said his department asked the Cook County Sheriff’s Police to investigate once municipal administrators became suspicious. Aftanas declined to comment on the particulars of the case, but confirmed that McReady, who lives in Romeoville, is no longer employed by the village. She had worked in the records division of the police department for about eight years, Aftanas said.