Former Prairie Grove Officer Released From Jail In Official Misconduct Case

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A local police chief who faces official misconduct charges has been released from custody as his court case move forward in McHenry County.

William C. Copp, 53, of Crystal Lake, is charged with felony official misconduct for allegations he improperly used law enforcement databases and license plate reader technology to track people he knew personally. Copp, the current police chief in Holiday Hills, conducted unauthorized searches involving people he knew personally, including women he had dated, while working as a part-time officer in Prairie Grove, according to Shaw Local.

Between February 2024 and November 2025, he is accused of improperly accessing restricted police systems, including the Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies Data System and the Prairie Grove Police Department’s Flock license plate reader system, for non-work-related reasons.

Court filings say the alleged activity included dozens of unauthorized database searches and about 246 uses of the department’s automated license plate reader system, according to court documents provided to Patch.

Copp was placed on administrative leave in November and fired by the Prairie Grove Police Department in May. Copp was hired as a police officer in Holiday Hills in January 2022 and was named chief in January, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

During a hearing earlier this month, a McHenry County judge granted Copp's pre-trial release. As part of his release, Copp is prohibited from possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons and must turn over any weapons in his possession to law enforcement.

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Copp is also restricted from entering the Prairie Grove Police Department and Holiday Hills Police Department, except once to retrieve personal belongings and only while accompanied by law enforcement, according to court documents.

In addition, he is not allowed to work as a police officer while the case is pending. He must also surrender any property belonging to either police department that is still in his possession. The release conditions require him to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendations that result from it.

Holiday Hills officials say the official misconduct allegations appear to stem from Copp's employment in Prairie Grove and the village is gathering additional information, according to Shaw Local.

Copp is next scheduled to appear in court on July 22.