HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10/6/2010 - Police CommissionMcHenry Police Commission
October 6, 2010
A Regular Meeting of the City of McHenry Police Commission was called to order by Chairman Haley on
October 6, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in the McHenry Municipal Center Aldermen’s Conference Room. In
attendance were Police Commissioners Ramon Gregorio, Sean Haley and Michael Roberts. Absent:
None. Also in attendance were Chief of Police Jones, Deputy Chief Pechous, Deputy Chief Lumber
Deputy Chief designee Kreassig and Administrative Assistant Lunsmann.
Chairman Haley announced this would be the last meeting attended by Deputy Chief Pechous due to his
impending retirement on October 15th.
Consideration of Police Commission Minutes of September 1, 2010 Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Gregorio, to approve the minutes of the McHenry Police Commission
as presented:
September 1, 2010 regularly scheduled meeting.
Voting Aye: Gregorio, Haley, Roberts.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
Update on Status of New Officers
Chief Jones stated two promotions have recently occurred: he was sworn in as Chief and Sergeant
Lumber was sworn in as Deputy Chief. In addition, two more promotions are scheduled for October 18th.
Sergeant Kreassig will be sworn in as Deputy Chief and Officer Kevin Cox will be sworn in as Sergeant.
Chief Jones noted Matt Voelker is currently attending the Police Academy and doing well from all
reports received. Officer Klasek has been released from the Field Training Officer program following a
brief extension. The department hopes to be approved to hire two more officers in January from the
current eligibility list. All officers hired from the current list with the exception of Officer Voelker are on
solo patrol.
Update on the status of those who were initially on the Entry Level Patrol Officer Recruitment List
Chairman Haled opined the officers hired from the current eligibility list were all hirable. As the list is
exhausted, the hirability becomes more of a question.
Deputy Chief Kreassig announced the detectives have completed the background check on candidate
#12. He noted candidates #10 and #11 turned down the offer for a position or did not pass the
remaining testing. Candidate #12 is currently a Chicago Heights police officer and has indicated he made
a calculated decision when making application for the City of McHenry department. He has family in the
area and wants to raise his family out of the Chicago Heights area. Deputy Chief Kreassig stated he
advised candidate #12 the McHenry department has not experiences much success with transfers into
the department. Candidate #12 stated he would stay with the department if offered the position. Some
discussion followed regarding ways to ensure transfers remain on the department following their hire.
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Chairman Haley noted it is the function of the Commission to present the department with a list of
viable candidates for hire. It is not the role of the Commission to advise the department on whom to
hire. The current candidate list expires in summer of 2011.
Deputy Chief Lumber stated there remain two viable candidates on the list. Commissioner Roberts
inquired if it was possible to extend the timeframe for which the list is operable. Chief Jones responded
it is not possible to either start a new list earlier than the expiration of the current list or to extend the
expiration date of the current list.
Deputy Chief Lumber advised there are currently two spots reserved for the Police Academy in January
2011. If for some reason there are no viable candidates to choose from on the list, the department is
willing to wait for the new list to be posted in August 2011.
Discussion regarding testing firm and testing process
It was the consensus that the testing schedule used for the 2009 list worked well. The physical agility
test should again be scheduled in the morning with the written test to follow in the afternoon for all
those passing the agility test.
Discussion followed regarding the testing company utilized in 2009. Chief Jones and all Deputy Chiefs
concurred that some type of writing segment must be part of the testing procedure. Chairman Haley
inquired if the lack of writing skills by some officers is just a cosmetic problem. Deputy Chief Lumber
responded it sometimes causes prosecution issues and is also a department reputation concern. Several
possible ways to incorporate a writing segment into the testing process were discussed. Chief Jones
noted if the City institutes its own report writing segment, it must be approved by the State of Illinois
and by the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Chairman Haley noted the Commission
would provide the opportunity to host and review potential writing segment tests.
Chief Jones stated there is a company that provides physical fitness testing for recruits and provides
them with a certificate of passing. However, the McHenry department does not plan to accept such a
certificate in lieu of passing the physical agility test component of the testing process.
Projected tentative timeline for new candidate entry level list
Chief Jones noted the Commission is responsible for selecting dates for testing in 2011 so that the new
list is posted when the current list expires in August 2011. Chief Jones suggested the Commission
shadow the schedule utilized in 2009 for testing, interviews, etc.
Other Business
Chairman Haley welcomed Deputy Chief Designee Kreassig and noted the Commission and department
would greatly miss Deputy Chief Pechous.
Chairman Haley thanked Commissioner Roberts for covering the swearing‐in ceremony for Chief Jones
and Deputy Chief Lumber. He noted he would be in attendance on October 18th to conduct the
swearing‐in of Deputy Chief Kreassig and Sergeant Cox.
Chairman Haley noted he had been approached about summer internships. Deputy Chief Lumber
advised he would be the contact person regarding such inquiries. Chief Jones noted the intern
requirements are that the person be enrolled in an accredited program and be receiving credit hours for
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the internship. Deputy Chief Lumber stated he would be in contact with the department chair and set up
the hours required. Students who may be interested in law enforcement positions may go on
theblueline.com for job openings and testing dates.
Chairman Haley inquired about physical fitness testing for current officers. Chief Jones advised the
department has just completed its second year for testing of all active officers. Chairman Haley asked
what steps are taken if an officer fails the test. Chief Jones explained the progressive assistance provided
and stated that at no time would a failing score result in the firing of an officer. However, special details
may be taken away if the officer continues to fail the test. He noted there is an age and gender
component to the test. The department is considering going to a more specialized testing for those
officers involved in NIPAS, etc.
Adjournment
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Gregorio, to adjourn at 4:40 p.m.
Voting Aye: Gregorio, Haley, Roberts.
Voting Nay: None
Absent: None.
Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Joan Lunsmann, Administrative Assistant