The results of a yearlong Illinois State Police investigation into the destruction of Springfield police internal affairs files is now in the hands of the prosecutors who will determine whether any criminal charges will be filed.

Director Patrick Delfino said Thursday the state�s attorneys appellate prosecutor�s office received a �substantial� number of files from state police investigators late last month.

�We just have to review the case in a timely, comprehensive and proficient manner,� Delfino said.

Once the review is complete, the office will determine what charges, if any, will be filed against those involved in the destruction of internal affairs records that were the subject of an open-records request.

Delfino said it would be inappropriate for him to make any additional comments at this time.

State police spokeswoman Monique Bond said she couldn�t comment on the number of files investigators turned over to prosecutors or who was interviewed during the investigation.

Calvin Christian III filed a request for internal affairs files under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act in April 2013, but he was told the city didn�t have the records he was asking for.

Following Christian�s request, then-Police Chief Robert Williams signed an agreement with the police union that allowed internal affairs files to be destroyed after four years instead of five. City records show Mark Cullen, then the city�s top attorney, gave the final legal OK to proceed with the destruction.

After details of the shredding came to light last summer, Williams abruptly retired and Cullen resigned.

Christian filed a lawsuit against the city last May, and the city later agreed to an out-of-court settlement that paid him and his attorneys more than $100,000.

The internal affairs file of former Deputy Chief Cliff Buscher was one of those involved in the shredding. Buscher retired from the department earlier this year.

Geannette Wittendorf, an assistant city attorney who advised the police department at the time the documents were destroyed, also left her job with the city in early January.

Police Lt. Christopher Mueller, the department�s head of internal affairs who destroyed the records after receiving a direct order from Williams, remains employed with the department. Records show Mueller voiced his opposition to destroying the documents, CDs and cassette tapes.

Contact Dan Petrella: daniel.petrella@sj-r.com, 788-1532, twitter.com/petrellareports, facebook.com/danpetrella.