Lyons' Historic Corruption Spotlighted In New Podcast

LYONS, IL – These days, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty practices an old-school version of politics.

His campaign raises hundreds of thousands of dollars from village vendors. And Lyons employees are among those who circulate his campaign petitions.

In the late 1990s, his father, Kenneth Getty, was convicted of rigging construction bids while mayor, going to prison.

Lyons' colorful history goes back long before that.

Next week, former Lyons resident Christopher Kostrzak is releasing a 10-episode investigative documentary podcast titled "Taming Lyons."

The series focuses on former Mayor Judy Petrucci's campaign against organized crime and political corruption, according to a news release on the documentary. The podcast also examines Lyons' role in Operation Safebet, an organized crime vice sting.

The documentary traces Lyons' "legacy of infamy" to the present day, with political controversy surrounding Mayor Getty, who is running in the 4th Congressional District.

In 1989, Life magazine called Petrucci "The Unlikely Tamer of Lyons." According to the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark newspaper, Petrucci, who died in 2011, got fed up with strip clubs and the politicians who turned a blind eye to them.

Petrucci became a trustee in 1987 and was elected mayor two years later. In her first year at the helm, Operation Safebet resulted in the arrests of dozens, including two Lyons police officers.

"Taming Lyons" is set to be released next Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Patreon.