Hometown Heroes turned watchdogs
Updated: September 21, 2012
PARIS -- Sometimes police can't get the bad guys all by themselves. That's where these Hometown Heroes come in. They fought for our country, now they're fighting crime. WCIA-3's Amanda Porterfield introduces us to the two men who've turned into courthouse watchdogs.
"They're taking advantage of the public tax dollar and we chose that we are going to expose it and do all that we can to put a stop to it," says John Kraft.
John Kraft and Kirk Allen say they research public information, go to meetings and post articles about what they find online for all to see.
"Stories like people working two jobs and getting paid two jobs at the same time from the county and getting paid for both of them. False claims being claimed for things that shouldn't be getting paid for. Salaries that just skyrocket from one year to the next," says Kraft.
The watchdogs say they break at least six stories a month.
"The real whistle-blowers are the people who want to get the information out and don't have an outlet," says Kirk Allen.
They've put stories in a local paper, but say someone is scaring stores out of selling them.
"We've had five different stores threatened. We're gonna get to the bottom of who," says Allen.
But, it's not stopping them.
"I am willing to fight and die for what the constitution represents. I didn't give up that oath just because I got out of the service," says Allen.
John Kraft was in the Army for many years. Kirk Allen served in the Air Force. But, Lady Justice was in his ear well before that.
"At 18 years old, I had to go through a jury trial and prove my innocence. I won hand's down, and as time went on, as I went through the military, I realized that some people don't have the wherewithal to fight those kinds of fights," says Allen.
"We're not heroes. We're just a voice for the people," says Allen.
A voice they hope is echoed through counties across Illinois. One controversy the pair is following involves the Brocton Village Board. You may remember it shut down its police department and is trying to sell squad cars and equipment. They brought to light a lawsuit filed to stop that.
"They're taking advantage of the public tax dollar and we chose that we are going to expose it and do all that we can to put a stop to it," says John Kraft.
John Kraft and Kirk Allen say they research public information, go to meetings and post articles about what they find online for all to see.
"Stories like people working two jobs and getting paid two jobs at the same time from the county and getting paid for both of them. False claims being claimed for things that shouldn't be getting paid for. Salaries that just skyrocket from one year to the next," says Kraft.
The watchdogs say they break at least six stories a month.
"The real whistle-blowers are the people who want to get the information out and don't have an outlet," says Kirk Allen.
They've put stories in a local paper, but say someone is scaring stores out of selling them.
"We've had five different stores threatened. We're gonna get to the bottom of who," says Allen.
But, it's not stopping them.
"I am willing to fight and die for what the constitution represents. I didn't give up that oath just because I got out of the service," says Allen.
John Kraft was in the Army for many years. Kirk Allen served in the Air Force. But, Lady Justice was in his ear well before that.
"At 18 years old, I had to go through a jury trial and prove my innocence. I won hand's down, and as time went on, as I went through the military, I realized that some people don't have the wherewithal to fight those kinds of fights," says Allen.
"We're not heroes. We're just a voice for the people," says Allen.
A voice they hope is echoed through counties across Illinois. One controversy the pair is following involves the Brocton Village Board. You may remember it shut down its police department and is trying to sell squad cars and equipment. They brought to light a lawsuit filed to stop that.
