Fort ‘retires’ as deputy; to resign as school board/president
Fort's mugshot, 07.20.10
UPDATE: SCHOOL BOARD RESIGNATION CONFIRMED. REST OF THE ARTICLE FOLLOWS IN THE ORIGINAL FORMAT.
SALINE CO.—Todd Fort has now added ‘former’ to his status as Saline County sheriff’s deputy.
In a memo sent to Saline County Sherif DK Brown dated today and received some time between 1 and 1:30 p.m., Fort announced that he was “officially retiring as Saline County Sheriff’s Deputy.”
He thanked Brown for the opportunity to serve the county as deputy, and as chief deputy for the past almost four years, since Brown was elected sheriff. Fort was Brown’s appointment to the chief deputy position.
Fort just bonded out of the Jackson County Jail this past Saturday night with $25,000 raised by family and friends. He was jailed Tuesday, July 20, after an Illinois State Police investigation turned up allegations that he had been having an illicit sexual relationship with a 17-year-old Harrisburg High school student who was working at the Saline County sheriff’s department, under Fort’s direct supervision, as an intern.
On July 19, Fort was caught with the girl in his squad, by the girl’s father, as they were traveling through Harrisburg. This resulted in a high-speed chase and intensive questioning of the girl, who informed investigators that the relationship had been going on since about three weeks after she turned 17 (in early April). However, sources close to the family have indicated to Disclosure that the relationship may have actually dated back to a year ago.
Saline County Sheriff DK Brown
Fort’s attorney, Bryan Drew, reportedly held a press conference today to state that Fort had ‘retired.’
What Drew didn’t explain is that upon Fort’s release from jail, he contacted Brown, and the two had a meeting this past Sunday afternoon (08.22.10) about Fort’s continued employment. Fort had not been being paid as deputy since his arrest, as he had not been working. However, early on, Brown had removed the ‘chief’ designation from Fort’s deputy status.
Drew also probably didn’t express that a union hearing (the union representing the police employees) had been scheduled for tomorrow….and the ‘retirement’ pre-empts the hearing.
Fort remains on the Harrisburg Schools school board, this being an elected, and not appointed or hired, position. He also remains the school board president, this position being selected among the school board members and voted upon. There has been no movement on change of this status; however, the school board has called upon Fort to resign.
Fort remains under a no-contact order as a bond condition. He is also under and Order of Protection as sought two weeks ago by the father of the girl, who, as a minor, is still under her father’s care and custody. Fort cannot go within 500 feet of the high school, although that doesn’t seem to have much impact on his duties as an elected school board official, or board president.
More as we get it….
Short URL: http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=4301
Posted by Chris Beavers
on Aug 24 2010. Filed under Richland.
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As soon as I got finished posting all that I felt bad about it, although it sure felt good while I was typing! I shouldn’t have said it so hatefully but it really got to me when he/she started talking about the child. I mean did they adopt out of love for the child or as a community service to Saline Co.? I should issue an apologetic statement to the KINOFFAM…but I’ll probably wait and do that when Todd issues his :(( Yesterday was an anniversary of something horrible for me and I had a raging headache ALL day long so that’s really the only thing I can say in my defense and even then that’s a lame excuse for losing my temper. And I honestly can’t understand why those people would care what’s being said on here. If it’s traumatic for them then DON’T READ ! ANYWAY…thanks shunned, your opinion does matter as you are always a voice of reason. HHANNAH, I took one before bed
. I’d wondered if the ghost had gotten you for good.
@BRESLIN…thank you. I read your post last night and it gave me a chuckle that I really needed.
@eileen…nah, I’m still here, lady. Just had a lot going on and wondered if maybe I should tend to my own business for a while. I’m okay with the ghost…I think…
I realize this is a forum where we can pretty much say what we think or feel and do so without any kind of recognition. And believe me, I can get as steamed up like you did. I just always try to count to 10 before I mouth off, and if I’m still hot under the collar, then I count to 10 again. I keep counting until I cool down. When I was younger, I doubt there was anybody who had a hotter temper than I had. Thank God I learned how to control it as the years passed. Sometimes I think my kids can’t believe I’ve managed to this either, but they know now that I really do start counting before I say something I know I’m going to regret later.
I’ve given Todd Fort’s family a lot of thought, eileen, and I don’t know about you…but no matter what one of my kids did, right or wrong, I wouldn’t stop loving them…no matter what. I might be very disappointed or heartbroken by their actions, but the ties that bind would never be broken and I’d stand beside them…no matter what. That’s just the kind of mother I am. I’ll bend and bend and bend until it comes to one of my kids, then I’m like an old mother hen. So I try to put myself in the shoes of Todd Fort’s family. They love him and they probably feel terrible this has happened for everyone involved, but that isn’t going to change the way they feel. Nobody was more shocked about this event than me, I’m sure. I know Todd and I liked him. He was always nice and polite and treated me with respect. That’s the Todd Fort I know and can’t imagine any other kind. I realize that girl is a minor and he should have known better and he’s going to suffer the consequences for his actions as he should. But I’d just rather remember the good than the bad. God knows I’ve seen enough bad in people that I don’t need to think about any more. It gets too depressing.
I’m sorry about the anniversary causing a raging headache. I got one of those anniversaries coming up next month myself, really unpleasant, no telling how I’ll re-act. Hope nobody on here temps me.
I might unload like you did and stir up the ghost again. ha.
@HHANNAH…I have a temper, no doubt about it. Most the time I can control it and then sometimes…well… not so much. I don’t know Todd and have never had any dealings of any kind with him but I will say there’s a difference between a GOOD person and a NICE person. He may be nice but if he did what he’s accused of I just wouldn’t be able to classify him as a GOOD person. It’s a shame that his family has to suffer as they aren’t the ones who are up on charges. Apparently he wasn’t thinking about his child or his family though. As I mentioned before I had a “problem” child and that’s putting it mildly. I stood by them as did my family. At one court appearance the judge even commented that you normally don’t see that much family support for someone with a drug problem ( he was meaning it as a compliment )and as long as they were trying to help themselves we were there. When they quit we eventually had to turn our backs. It was the hardest thing to do and they call it “Tough Love” because it’s hardest on the family but there comes a point that the support is no longer helping and becomes enabling, though the love itself is never gone. hmmm and Out of Town Kin don’t sound like they’re very sorry for everyone involved, just Todd. And I can’t help but wonder how many knew that this was taking place? I do feel compassion for his family and even Todd himself believe it or not. I’ve done many STUPID things in my life that I look back and wonder what was I thinking. And while I’m not the person I used to be there are still lingering consequences for both myself & my family. I think it would behoove the Fort family to go on with their lives as best as possible and not be concerned with what people are saying on a message board. Their defense of Todd here is not going to change any one’s opinion about his guilt or innocence I don’t think. The headache yesterday was due to 5 messed up places in my back & neck that need surgery. The heartache, well, that’s a whole nother story. I do hope you have an easier time next month in dealing with yours.
@eileen…well said, lady. As for your neck and back problems that need surgery, I once had a VERY smart doctor who is now deceased tell me to NEVER let anybody cut on your back until the pain gets so bad you absolutely CANNOT stand it any longer. Then get a second opinion and seek out only the best surgeons. I have back problems myself and I know about back pain. Makes you miserable and flaws your character at times…no doubt about it.
Hardluck Hannah finally some words of wisdom.. And no ms. eileen that’s not the case.. My point in the whole matter is that you stop and look at both sides and in case in point in this forum NOOONE but me n kin do ( and now hh)Everyone is bashing Todd because hes older and in higher ranking authority. Noone says anything about the “victim” And I stand my grown when I say shes not a victim. Has NOTHING to do with Todd.. personally I do not know Todd. I do know however know the family and they are the kindest most loving family there is. They would give you the shirt off their backs! They do not dilly dally in everyday drama. So this has been a lot on their shoulders as HH has said. Put yourself in their shoes..He has a daughter, a niece and nephews he has a siblings, ect. His life has been torn apart by a girl who is adult enough to have sex with anyone except a police officer, adult enough to hold a drivers license, adult enough to have a job, but not adult enough to have sex with a police officer.. thats what I see. I see this injustice happen a lot with young girls going with higher ranks or older men for whatever reason. Maybe you dont have the luxury of seeing this happen to people a lot but i have! Ive seen many young boys that have their life taken by a girl who wanted to have sex but their parents found out. The girls get away with it, their names are not slurred in the mud their jobs taken and their families destroyed. We have all done stupid things in our lives.. most dont get drug to this point, but if you think about it if the right person was there it would have. We all have tempers.. mine yes can get very bad.. but when i see people being so closed minded about things it really pisses me off.. prob one reason i dont get along with a lot of people.. but its not something i care about nor do i let it interfere with my business.. im not in the ass kissn business.. either you want to hear the truth or you dont i dont sugar coat it.. but when admin deletes comments they dont like thats not being very fare.. thats being closed minded and childish.. everyone has their opinions and they should be heard. have you ever thought of a situation and didnt know the full story or dont know the circumstances and at the end felt pretty stupid? Like i said earlier my point is that noone thinks about her side they just sit and call him a sick man, but you forget that its both sided.. if he forced himself on to her that would make him a sick man but he didnt.. key word is consent.. that means willing and able.. Just as i have said in the other threads whats wrong with the type of sex people have? Sorry but everyone is different and if they like sex a certain way that’s their business as long as their partner is into it to.. hell gotta try it all once you might be missn out on some awesome orgasms! (by the way relieves a LOT LOT of stress! some of you should really try it..;) )
I had sex for the first time at 14 my daughter is now 13 do you not think that freaks me out a lil as a mother? but my think is i can only teach her right and wrong and when its acceptable and when its not and percautions, because im wise enough to know that i cant be with her 24/7 and im wise enough to know that i cant control every action nor put her in a bubble! so i teach her the best i can and have faith that is enough.. I have lived on my own since i was 16 so i do not feel sorry for girls or boys who put themselves in adult situations and their parents find out and they are then “victims”
a victim is noun
1.a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency: a victim of an automobile accident.
2.a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency: a victim of misplaced confidence; the victim of a swindler; a victim of an optical illusion.
3.a person or animal sacrificed or regarded as sacrificed: war victims.
4.a living creature sacrificed in religious rites.
I just got off the mower, just checked the site and just had to approve NINE comments that for whatever reason were pending in moderation. I DON’T KNOW why they are in moderation. I CAN’T HELP the fact that they are going into moderation. But I AM NOT PUTTING THEM in moderation. So hmmm, you’d better get off your shit about me deleting comments. I have not deleted one comment about this subject AT ALL SINCE IT STARTED. Many of them have been offensive, and some have been held until I can edit the offensive words out of them. But NONE have been deleted. If you are spending some time making a post and it doesn’t make it to the site, you need to check your clicking skills, the problem is probably on your end. But I am DONE, and I mean DONE, with this deleting comments bullshit. You WILL BE BANNED if you persist. You are undermining what’s going on here by promoting that idea, and I will not have it. This IS your final warning. I am tolerating your shit to this point but I will not any longer.
As for the rest of the post comment, I have to say: that’s one of the most offensive things I have ever read about the Fort situation to date. You come on here and try to justify the weight of your opinion by advising us that you were fucking when you were 13 or 14, ergo you know that a 17-year-old is not a VICTIM. Well let me tell you something, you little shit: She, according to the law, IS. You, according to the law, WERE, whether you wanted to admit it or not. If you’re sitting in an area where shoes and teeth aren’t common among the populace, I can understand why no one was charged and you were a parent at 14. But here, in southern Illinois, we try to have a modicum of adherence to the law and the laws are designed with decency. Not only did Todd ENFORCE the law, but he KNEW the law, and he allegedly BROKE the law. All the whining, berating other people and flaccid justification you’re making on his part WILL NOT WASH on this forum. Take it somewhere else. Todd Fort arrested and testified against people better than he in the two or so decades he was a law enforcement officer who did the identical thing he did, and you know what? The evidence is coming out that there are other VICTIMS, and I mean VICTIMS, of his shit over the years, same as in this case. They are VICTIMS ACCORDING TO THE LAW, and I WILL NOT have it disseminated any other way here. Your #2 IS the definition of what Todd is charged with doing to this girl. So not only is it a definition, but statutorily, it’s wrong. You are going to have to get a grip on that and help the man deal with reality, not his bullshit fantasies about getting a reveres vasectomy and all the other lies he told this girl. You’re warned; please behave accordingly if you want posting privileges here, because I will yank them out from under you.
man, i was damn near salivating reading hmmm’s last post of asinine b.s. I couldn’t wait to finish reading it so i could rebut that mound of nonesense he/she took the time to type. but..uh…looks like a more adept wordsmith beat me to it. all i can say is: Ditto.
Is there going to be more charges stemming from other VICTIMS?
@Top Cat: that depends on whether they come forward. From what we’re understanding, most of them are of age now (age of consent, anyway….a couple of them are still under 21). I’ve been told there’s a 10-year statute of limitations on criminal sexual assault and abuse; but I’ve not had this independently verified. At this point, if they find evidence of any relationship with any of the previous girls in whatever they took out of Toddly’s house, or if those girls simply come forward and tell the truth about what’s been going on, there could be charges. Otherwise there’s nothing.
@shunned…I read it and all I can say is… :((
lol. ahh I’m sorry did i “offend” you? YOU and others can call people lil shits and bitch’s and such but noone can make a solid comment without name calling? If they do they get threaten to be BANNED? lmao! Guess you don’t do much reading into what offensive means or how to edit them. Didn’t realize in a world of freedom of speech that a person can be “shunned” for saying what they feel is right. But I guess that what happens in the southern Illinois area. Also im very proficient on computers so no it wasn’t on my end. Just because I was 14 doesn’t make me a slut nor did i say i had a child at 14,(hinch your eye for reportings sucks balls) I for one paid my bills, went to school full time and worked full time at the age of 16. Didnt have my daughter till i was 20. As I have asked before how old were any of you when you first had sex? yet noone can ever answer that question. I guess thats taboo…lol. How old were you? lol.. honesty i tell ya.. it goes right through some people.. do you think its going to bother me that you bann me from your site? lol. nahh Ill still say what I want when I want.. you can have your lil hate site.. because thats all you people do. if ANYONE goes against what you say and you don’t know then you automatically get defensive and start name calling..
awww.. you can sit there and call me names all you want but you might actually be surprised in who I am..You all have totaly missed the point in anything I have said. And you pretty much summed it up to say that if you do not agree with you; you are not allowed to leave comments. hmmmm If you want your readers to be informed correctly then they should be allowed to hear BOTH sides not just your side; Let them make their own judgments from there. ~Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. ~ Ignorance is bliss and Disclosure has it all! 
@hmmm: Only someone as delusional as you obviously are would call that comment “solid.” And yes, when you insult a victim of a crime in such a way as you repeatedly have, you’d better believe you get banned. In other sites, they don’t tell you, they just do it. At least here you get warned. And as far as what’s offensive, if you’d actually bother to read what’s going on here, I take the pulse of the other commenters before I determine what’s offensive…if it’s offensive to our readers, it’s outta here.
Did anyone else take it that this dimwit said she was pregnant/had a child/some such inference at 14? I sure as hell did. Does anyone else care at what age anyone else had sex? Does anyone else want to see this fool shut down?
I’d say yes, no, and yes.
@hmmm…You’re beginning to sound a little voyeuristic but whatever floats your boat…I was 17 and married my first time. Next you’ll be asking when the last time was that any of us had sex. And if God forbid your 13 yr. old starts having sex with a 40 something yr. old man…who from my recollection would be about 10 yrs. older than you…who are you going to be angry at?
@ eileen I would be willing to bet she would throw that someone right in jail immediately if this were her child. Now @ hmmmm you will most likely say your child is 13 so there is quite an age difference here in these circumstances then yours would be at her age. So just think long and hard before you answer this question. What would you actually have done if this were your daughter? Please tell us what you think should have been done or how this situation should have been handled.
Well admin I WOULD agree with you but then I’d be called a suck up…when we both know I’m just here for the cookies.
I’m coming to be of the opinion that this Fort situation is bringing out the SICK in people who, behind their masks, are.
And unfortunately, it looks like most of those are FortSupport.
wow! hummm. well lol.
Why would you bann someone for saying thier side of the story? I dont see anywere were it says that she was 14 when she was pregnant had child at 14. I see were she said she had sex at 14. AND? Do you know how many people have? I see her point on a lot of it. but guess admin and Disgusted get the last word and doenst let her answer his question.
@SI mom: Doesn’t have anything to do with “last word.” Please read what I’m saying and get your ass out of the air. It’s about the offensive issuance that the victim in this case isn’t a victim. That’s it and that’s all. That little twit hmmmm should have been banned five posts ago, but I let it go. And this is what I get for it, people NOT reading what I’m saying, just siding with a dumbass. We HAVE NOT and WILL NOT allow a victim to be victimized on here, plain and simple. Read through other posts if you don’t believe me. But we won’t have anyone here saying that by doing this, we’re “not allowing the other side” to get out.
To my way of thinking, Toddly HAD “his side” for several months before getting caught. That’s all the “side” he needs.
I would also say when these parents went to Sheriff Brown and told him I am sure he did discuss the situation or at least make Todd aware of what was told to him. So WHY didn’t it stop at that point? He had to have known if someone had went so far as to go to authorities that they were coming after him. Sad thing is I really think he must have thought he was untouchable maybe? That’s the only reason I can think of. I think he was thinkin with his balls instead of his brain on this one. Your right about one thing and that is alot of people have been hurt over this. But this website is nothing compared to the hurt and shame he personally has caused them. I feel sooooo sorry for his little girl most of all and her mommy that has to someday explain this to her. How aweful it will be when she has to do that. Right now is not the time but someday she will have questions as she gets older and hears things and I pray for her mommy to have the strength and find the right words to break it to her gently. She’s a sweet little girl, innocent, and will have alot to endure as she grows up in this ugly world we live in. She is fortunate to have a mommy that loves her though and thank God for her.
hmmm? says:
August 26, 2010 at 5:11 pm Didn’t realize in a world of freedom of speech that a person can be “shunned” for saying what they feel is right.
Honestly hmmm…do you not realize what you are saying? That YOU can say what you feel is right but the rest of us can’t?
Yes, hmmmmm, you have freedom of speech but this is a privately owned website and they can determine what they allow and what they do not allow. They are very fair in what they allow but they are not going to allow you to defame the young girl in question.
I really try to consider myself enightened enough to realize there is always 2 sides to a story. But for the life of me I can’t see what part of the “other story” isn’t being allowed to be told here. A 44 year old man alledgedly had a long term sexual relation with a 16 year old kid. What is the other side? He was forced to do it? He couldn’t tell a 16 year old “no”? He doesn’t know right from wrong? If a sexual relationship occurred, that’s the whole story, the end. And if true, he’s a sex offender. Plain and simple. I just don’t understand how anyone can justify or rationalize a middle age man having sex with a kid. There are several victims in this tragic story. The 16/17 yr old girl. This man’s young daughter. The victim’s family. Members of his family that have been devestated by this. But the one person that is NOT a victim in all of this is Fort.
I feel sorry for hmmm’s 13 year old daughter. She has a mother who expects her to have sex in the next year. What horrible pressure! My question to hmmm is, in your opinion, at what age is a child too young to consent to sex with an adult and is then a victim? Ten?
I think “Hmmms” attitude is sadly common among many parents today. The “they’re gonna do it anyways so why bother?” attitude. This could be why teenagers are allowed to dress and act like hookers (especially on things like Facebook) and have had several sex partners before they are out of high school. Yeah, I sound like a real prude, but it’s true.
@Hmmm?
You seem a little stressed over there, May i help you relieve this stress with the type of sex your referring to?
this man is jast about in the close area of what the priest did to the boy’s working under them …. IE the CONTROL, INTIMIDATION, SEX, & AFFECTION with a FUTURE that is certain & A.K.A. PROTECTION(BACON protecting anything Butt the Y… not happening) hahaha SICK man!!! gross miss Use of his powers
& for all U out of work backseat Teachers i didn’t get as much attention as the girls DO @ HHS with the free RANGE of DICK TRACY and all. i’m sure SHE got most of it like the rest do around HHS & one Q???? PLZ hopefully someone can A… Y do we give up after a few days & let them wait it out & not do the RIGHT thing right away ? IN HBG ….???????? i know some of the A… don’t wana step on the wrong toes… the playing feild needs leveled !!!!
@admin, I totally agree with you thats how i read the comment to, and i also agree if we are gonna clean up our county then we all need to be aware of whats going on and not turn our heads and think we cant make a difference,because WE CAN,i would like to be proud to say where iam from,and know my grandchildren were being raised in a respectful community, :p
Sounds like Hummmms is pushing her 13 year old daughter out the door to have sex like she did when she was 14. Maybe she could set Fort up with her daughter.