HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 3/2/2016 - Police Commission
City of McHenry
Board of Police Commissioners
March 2, 2016
Chairman Rick Huber called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM in the City of McHenry Council Chambers
with the following Commissioners present: Ramon Gregorio and Mike Roberts. Absent: None. Also
present: Chief John Jones, Deputy Chief John Birk and Recording Secretary Marci Geraghty.
Public Input:
None.
Consideration of February 3, 2016 Meeting Minutes
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Gregorio to approve the minutes from the February 3, 2016 Police
Commission meeting as presented.
Voting Aye: Roberts, Gregorio, Huber
Voting Nay: None
Abstaining: None
Not Voting: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
Unfinished Business
a) Update on Patrol Eligibility List. Chairman Huber asked Chief Jones to update the Commission
on the status of the Eligibility List. Chief Jones reported we are down to #14 on the list however
#14 may not be available. In addition an officer recently resigned from the department therefore
ideally, we should send a minimum of two officers through the next test cycle.
Chief Jones further reported that Deputy Chief Birk and Commander King have been researching
the possible development of a Lateral List that would run concurrently with the Eligibility List.
Basically, this is a lateral transfer of a trained and experienced officer from one agency to
McHenry. The Police Commission may waive portions of the required examination for police
applicants who have previously been full time sworn officers in any municipal, county,
university, state or federal law enforcement agency provided they are certified or have the ability
to be certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. They also must
have been previously employed as a law enforcement officer within the last two years. Chief
Jones stated lateral transfers save time and money. When a new officer is hired from the
eligibility list, he has to go to PTI and then Field Training and it would most likely be a year
before that officer is on the street solo. A lateral transfer puts an experience officer on the street
in a few weeks. Chief Jones distributed to the board copies of Buffalo Grove’s Lateral Entry
Police Officer Application and Regulations.
Chairman Huber asked if background checks would still be performed. Chief Jones told the
Board that officers applying for a later transfer would still go through background checks, poly
and psych exams, and medical exams.
Deputy Chief Birk added the lateral transfer list would be separate from the eligibility list. We
could select a candidate who is lower on the eligibility list and high on the lateral transfer list to
fill vacancies in the most timely and efficient manner. He told the Commission that the
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department is down five officers due to a resignation, pending Police Pension action, FMLA, and
injury.
The Commission asked if it would be necessary to amend the bylaws or enact an ordinance.
Chairman Huber noted it has been discussed at past meeting that the Policies and Procedures
Manual may need to be updated. Deputy Chief Birk said he would discuss this matter with the
city attorney.
Deputy Chief Birk stated the process of creating a new list is currently underway and will be
ready on June 3rd. The next academy opening is June 26, giving us three weeks to hire two
successful candidates who realistically won’t be on the street until March 2017. The lateral list
would expedite this process.
Chief Jones expressed his appreciation for the positive relationship the department has with the
Police Commission. This Commission has high standards and has hired excellent candidates. He
stated the Commission would lose no control of the hiring process should they utilize the lateral
transfer list and would incur no additional costs to the city.
After more discussion on the proposed requirements and process of developing a lateral transfer
list, the board agreed to move forward with the process of amending the Rules and Regulations
and the establishment of a lateral transfer list.
b) Department Updates:
Officer Ryan Ehardt is currently in Stage 3 of his training.
Officer Robert Keene submitted his resignation after 12 years with the department.
New Business
Deputy Chief Birk announced identification cards will be updated citywide. He asked the Commission to
check their ID’s for expiration dates.
Communications
None.
Adjournment
Gregorio made a motion, seconded by Roberts to adjourn the meeting.
Voting Aye: Gregorio, Roberts, Huber
Voting Nay: None
Abstaining: None
Not Voting: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 PM. Next meeting of the Police Commission is April 6, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________________
Marci Geraghty, Recording Secretary