West Cook News

A former law enforcement official has come forward with allegations that Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills failed to complete both mandatory firearms training and required administrative reporting as the Chief faces heightened scrutiny for targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. 

The source, who spoke to West Cook News on the condition of anonymity, described Mills’ leadership as “non-compliant” and “poorly managed,” 

“If you're going to run up and start putting police against police, have your house in order,” the source said. “Have your training records in order. If you're going to make these claims and gather with the press that has its own agenda, you need to have your house in order. You're taking a risk for your whole department.”  

Mills, who has refused to cooperate with federal agents requesting police assistance with crowd control during violent protests at Broadview’s ICE facility, instead launched criminal investigations into ICE agents and publicly accused the agency of endangering public safety by using deterrents such as tear gas and allegedly making false 911 calls.

“You gotta have your shit in line here if that’s what you’re gonna do,” the retired officer said. “If you’re gonna be the face of the left-wing police department police chiefs, you better be as clean as they come, and it doesn’t look like that.” 

The source pointed to Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) records showing Mills is not current with required training.

Mills retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2021 after serving 31 years. He joined the Broadview Police Department two months after retiring from the CPD.  

Under Illinois law, all certified law enforcement officers, including chiefs, must complete an annual firearm qualification. Police chiefs are also mandated to complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing training per year.

The Safe-T Act, passed in 2021, further expands training mandates, requiring more extensive instruction, some annually, some within three years. 

According to official records, Mills has not kept up with these requirements.

“He has not qualified for that weapon,” the source said.  “Technically, he's in conflict with what should be every police chief's responsibility, and he's one guy who hasn't complied.” 

Additionally, Broadview Police allegedly stopped submitting required body camera usage reports to the state after 2022 despite having body cams since 2016.

Police departments across Illinois are required to submit annual reports on body-worn camera usage, including whether officers recorded incidents and how often force was used.

Subsequently, Mills has been accused of operational sloppiness and a lack of accountability.

“The problem is Mills doesn't run a clean shop,” the source said. “It doesn't look like they have been sending the required body cam reports, and those are like simple Simon. You could do those in 15 minutes.”

It's unclear what, if any, disciplinary action could result from the instances of non-compliance. 

The ILETSB has limited enforcement power and typically relies on departments to self-report. 

Meanwhile, federal officials say Mills’ decisions to pursue criminal cases against ICE agents, paired with his department's inaction has exacerbated the chaos, noting that “failure to help provide relief makes you a party to the obstruction of justice."

Mills announced his department's criminal investigations into "ICE activities" at a press conference earlier this month. 

"The Broadview Police Department has launched three separate criminal investigations into ICE activities since the Midway Blitz began in the Chicago area. We have requested the full cooperation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in these investigations, and we expect that cooperation to happen," he said.

Mills has also complained about ICE agents calling him a “fascist” who doesn't do his job.