The Ducan order of protection paid for by the taxpayers

By Jamie Hicks | Hicks Investigative News Part one

     Jamie Hicks is officially breaking his silence on the controversial workplace protection order filed against him by the City of LaSalle under the Illinois Workplace Violence Protection Act—a law designed to protect employees from threats at their place of work. However, the alleged incident occurred in a courtroom, not at any city workplace.

The claim? That Hicks made a threatening statement toward Finance Director John Duncan during a legal hearing. Despite the serious nature of the accusation, no criminal charges were filed. No courtroom sheriffs intervened. No judge called for removal. Instead, the city pursued a civil workplace protection order—an unprecedented move in LaSalle.

The official record reveals that four different individuals provided four entirely different versions of what Hicks allegedly said. Conflicting accounts. No audio. No video. Just hearsay—used as the foundation for stripping a citizen of his constitutional rights to speak at meetings and contact city officials.

“This wasn’t about safety. It was about shutting me down,” Hicks said. “I'm the first person in this city to be hit with this kind of order, and they used public money to do it.”

Mayor Jeff Grove and the city council supported the action, committing taxpayer funds to back a civil case that bypassed criminal court entirely.

This isn’t just about one man. It’s about a system willing to bend the law to silence dissent—and make the people pay for it.

The order is set to expire on May 3, 2025, unless the city seeks an extension. Hicks has indicated his intention to challenge any such extension, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in local governance.

More to come—backed by evidence, transcripts, and the public record.