Fehr Graham Senior Staff Member Caught Impersonating Hospital Staff to Harass Resident
FREEPORT, IL – July 13, 2025
In yet another disturbing example of Freeport’s toxic political and institutional culture, newly uncovered records reveal that Fehr Graham senior staff member and Freeport Public Works Director Darin Stykel engaged in harassing and deceptive behavior against a local resident after fears that a long-buried family scandal might come to light.
A Call Meant to Intimidate
On June 11, 2025, an office manager at a Freeport insurance agency received a suspicious call. The caller ID showed (815) 235-7643, a number registered to Fehr Graham — one of the Midwest’s largest engineering firms and the City of Freeport’s primary contractor for infrastructure design, water safety, and public works oversight. The caller identified himself as Darin Stykel, claiming to be conducting an employment reference check on Joshua T. Atkinson, a former employee of the agency.
But according to the office manager, the call felt off from the start:
Stykel didn’t know the manager’s name — highly unusual for a legitimate reference call.
He quickly shifted the conversation from work history to Atkinson’s political views, asking whether he was "divisive" in public.
After receiving nothing but praise for Atkinson, Stykel abruptly ended the call and, when questioned about where he was calling from, falsely claimed to be with FHN (Freeport Health Network) before hanging up.
Employer’s Testimony Confirms
The office manager provided Fighting4Freeport and the City of Freeport with a detailed account of the fraudulent conversation. The following is a summary of that statement:
Tell me about Josh when he worked for you?
“Josh was diligent, hard-working, reliable, great with clients, and a supportive coworker.”Why did Josh leave or was he terminated?
“Josh wasn’t terminated. He left to dedicate time to his mayoral campaign.”Would you hire him back?
“Yes, in a heartbeat.”How is Josh with people, as some of his public content is divisive?
“Josh is great with people. He knows when to discuss politics. It was never a problem here or outside.”
Why This Matters
This call took place less than 24 hours after Atkinson submitted a FOIA request to the City of Freeport seeking records on Scott Stykel — Darin’s brother and the current Deputy Fire Chief — and his involvement in the 1999 lawsuit (Stykel v. City of Freeport, Docket No. 2-99-1446). The case centered on a group of firefighter candidates, including Scott, who were allegedly caught cheating on entry exams, with one scoring a documented zero. They sued the City, claiming civil rights violations.
Despite this being a matter of public record, the City denied the FOIA request on June 10, stating no responsive records could be located. By the very next day, Darin Stykel was harassing Atkinson’s former employer.
Atkinson Demands Accountability
On June 13, Atkinson issued a formal letter to:
Mark Gridley, President of FHN
Kyle Saunders, President of Fehr Graham
Aaron Szeto, Freeport City Attorney
In his letter, Atkinson accused Stykel of:
Impersonating a hospital official to gain access to sensitive employment information.
Harassing a private citizen engaged in lawful civic oversight.
Using his position as a senior public contractor to engage in deceptive political intimidation.
Atkinson’s letter requested three basic actions:
A formal explanation of whether Stykel acted under instruction or authority.
A public apology to both Atkinson and the employer.
An assurance that retaliation against residents would not be tolerated.
To date, none of the three requests have been met by either Fehr Graham or the City of Freeport.
City Attorney Confirms the Incident
Freeport City Attorney Aaron Szeto did, in fact, reach out to the insurance agency. The employer confirmed the call happened exactly as described, further validating Atkinson’s account.
Still, on July 1, Szeto deflected accountability, stating:
“Mr. Stykel was not acting in any official City capacity or under City instruction.” Further stating that Stykel is not employed by the city of Freeport.
He directed further questions to Fehr Graham, despite the fact that Stykel serves as Freeport’s contracted Public Works Director — a critical role in city operations.
FHN Confirms Stykel Wasn’t Calling for Them
On June 25, FHN President Mark Gridley officially denied any involvement:
“FHN has not initiated any inquiry in regards to you for referencing or any other employment purposes.”
He confirmed that FHN uses a third-party firm (JDP) for employment screenings, and no request was made on Atkinson. Stykel’s use of FHN’s name during the call was completely unauthorized.
Fehr Graham’s Silent Shrug
Kyle Saunders, President of Fehr Graham, responded on June 24 with a vague statement:
“We take all concerns seriously and will review internally.”
Since then, no update, no apology, and no accountability has followed. Stykel remains in his position, overseeing multi-million-dollar public works projects across the region, including Shannon’s water system and Freeport’s core infrastructure.
A Pattern of Harassment and Fear
This incident is not isolated. It reflects a broader pattern that Freeport residents know all too well:
✅ Public contractors acting with impunity
✅ Taxpayer-funded officials intimidating critics
✅ Decades of hidden scandals and missing records
And while no answers have been given, Darin Stykel has been paraded across local media in recent weeks in what appears to be a calculated PR “rainbow tour” — a distraction campaign to protect his public image after being caught.
Who Is Darin Stykel?
Fehr Graham Senior Staff Member
Freeport’s Public Works Director (contracted)
Brother of Scott Stykel, central figure in suppressed 1999 firefighter cheating scandal
The Bottom Line
Fehr Graham continues to employ a man who:
Falsely claimed to be from a local hospital
Called a resident’s former employer to dig for personal and political dirt
Left a voicemail using his real name and a traceable company line
All this — in retaliation for a legally protected FOIA request.
Can the public trust this man to oversee water systems, road safety, and taxpayer-funded engineering projects?
CALL TO ACTION
If your town, village, or city does business with Fehr Graham, it’s time to speak up.
📞 Contact your city council and demand that all contracts with Fehr Graham be reviewed and terminated.
🛑 Taxpayers should not be funding firms that harass residents, suppress truth, and retaliate against those who dare to ask questions.
The residents of Freeport — and every town Fehr Graham touches — deserve integrity, not intimidation.
—Brought to you and Paid for by Fighting4Freeport
