A year after she was placed on administrative leave, McHenry County authorities have charged a Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy with three counts of felony possession of a controlled substance.
Kimberly Zinke was removed from active duty after investigators searched her Woodstock home last year, recovering what one investigator described as a “sizable” amount of pills.
A source told NBC5 Friday evening that the drugs in question were Modafinil, a "wakefulness agent" used for treatment of various sleep disorders, Zolpidem, a sleep aid marketed in the United States as Ambien, and Tapentadol, a pain reliever.
Published reports stated last year that Zinke worked in an area where she had contact with evidence. But a source close to the investigation told NBC5 that while police believe Zinke obtained the drugs “thru her position in the agency and what she had access to,” it is not believed any cases were compromised, and that the narcotics in question did not appear to be evidence from ongoing investigations.
Another source close to the investigation said that police believed the drugs may have come from drop boxes, where citizens can leave unwanted prescription medications, often painkillers, for legal disposal.
Kimberly Zinke was recently featured on a suburban radio program, discussing her Church's efforts in aiding the homeless.
The matter was investigated in McHenry County, the officer’s county of residence, but the case was further complicated by the fact that Zinke’s husband was the former McHenry County undersheriff. Two years ago, he narrowly lost a bitter contest for sheriff and resigned from the department shortly after that election. To alleviate any appearance of conflict, McHenry County authorities asked the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office to act as a special prosecutor in the case.
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Kimberly Zinke turned herself in to authorities Friday afternoon. Her bond was set at $10,000.
