Orland firefighter charged after chats

by Kevin Smith
staff reporter

A 16-year veteran Orland Fire Protection District firefighter was banned from using the Internet after he allegedly sent nude videos of himself over the Internet to undercover police in Iowa posing as a 13-year-old girl that the man has been chatting with online for four months, police said.

Dean Milenkovic, 46, of Orland Park, was arrested at 6:35 a.m. Wednesday last week at his residence in the 11200 block of Marley Brook Court. His arrest followed a three-month investigation by undercover police in Iowa posing as a minor, police said.

Milenkovic was charged with felony grooming and felony harmful material after he had allegedly sent nude pictures of himself to what he believed to be a minor, according to Cook County State’s Attorney Spokesperson Andrew Conklin.

Milenkovic introduced himself on Feb. 29 to the undercover police officer using the Internet chat service Yahoo! Instant Messenger, the release said. Milenkovic exposed himself on video to the officers in a series of chats leading up to his arrest, authorities said.

The most recent chat took place April 12, when Milenkovic contacted the investigator’s undercover screen name, seeking an opportunity to see the body of what he believed to be a young girl and a potential meeting, prosecutors said.

Police seized the computers from Milenkovic’s home for evidence upon his arrest, Orland Park police Cmdr. John Keating said.

“The fire district is complying fully on this,” Keating said. There is no evidence suggesting that any of Milenkovic’s misbehavior took place on fire district property, he added.

The fire district placed Milenkovic on paid leave after his arrest.

“The Orland Fire Protection District was made aware of an investigation by an out-of-state police agency regarding harmful material involving a minor via the Internet, and the arrest of an employee that took place Wednesday morning,” Chief Ken Brucki stated the day after Milenkovic’s arrest.

“We are working with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office through the Orland Park Police Department to identify all the facts,” Brucki said. “Dean Milenkovic has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the investigation. I am most concerned about the integrity of the fire district and all of our employees to ensure that the public continues to have complete confidence in our ability to provide the emergency services they expect.”

Chief Brucki informed the district’s employees of the situation and is providing counseling to any employees distressed by this unfortunate news.

Milenkovic’s bond was set at $30,000 June 28 at the 5th Municipal District Cook County Courthouse in Bridgeview. He scheduled to appear in court again July 23, and may face up to three years in prison, Conklin said.