Fired Markham cop clears first hurdle in lawsuit over chief’s order to free convicted murderer who allegedly had gun in car

A recent federal court ruling has upheld a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Markham police officer Kayla Heller, who alleges she was unjustly terminated after reporting that Police Chief Jack Genius ordered her to release a convicted murderer she had arrested for possessing a loaded handgun during a routine traffic stop.

The lawsuit, which has been allowed to proceed to discovery by U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama, accuses Chief Genius and the City of Markham of retaliating against Heller for reporting the incident to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois State Police.

Heller, who joined the Markham police force in August 2024 and was terminated in December 2025, claims that she stopped Tyrone Muhammad, a convicted felon and U.S. Senate candidate, for driving with a suspended registration due to an insurance violation. Muhammad, who served 20 years for a 1994 murder in Chicago, is now the leader of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change (ECCSC) and is running for Senate.

During the traffic stop, Heller discovered a loaded handgun in Muhammad’s vehicle and arrested him for illegal possession of a firearm. However, Chief Genius allegedly ordered Heller to release Muhammad without charges and to release his car from impoundment without fees. Heller complied with the orders and issued Muhammad a citation for the registration violation instead.

Following the incident, Heller reported Chief Genius’s actions to external agencies, believing his conduct to be unlawful. In response, the department reportedly focused its attention on Heller, questioning her about the incident and her whistleblower complaint rather than investigating Genius’s actions.

On the same day that CWBChicago contacted Chief Genius about Muhammad’s release, Heller was terminated for allegedly failing to successfully complete her probationary period, despite having less than two weeks left. The city also failed to pay Heller over $10,000 in accrued vacation and sick time after her termination.

In denying the city’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, Judge Valderrama found that Heller had sufficiently alleged that she reported the incident outside her official duties by contacting external agencies instead of using internal reporting channels.

Heller is seeking reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages exceeding $100,000, attorney fees, statutory interest, and other relief in the ongoing legal battle.

This case highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers who come forward to report misconduct and unlawful behavior within law enforcement agencies. It also raises questions about the integrity and accountability of leadership within the Markham Police Department. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on unprecedented challenges for individuals and communities around the world. As the virus continues to spread rapidly, governments and healthcare systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing number of cases. In the midst of this crisis, it is crucial that we all come together to support one another and work towards finding a solution to this global health crisis.

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