HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 4/6/2011 - Police CommissionMcHenry Police Commission
April 6, 2011
A regular meeting of the City of McHenry Police Commission was called to order by Chairman
Haley on April 6, 2011 at 4 p.m. in the Municipal Center Aldermen’s Conference Room. In
attendance were Police Commissioners Ramon Gregorio, Sean Haley, and Michael Roberts. Also
in attendance were Deputy Chief Lumber, Deputy Chief Kreassig and Deputy Clerk Kunzer.
Consideration of Minutes: March 2, 2011 Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Commissioner Roberts requested the first sentence of paragraph five on page 1 be amended to
read: “Commissioner Roberts stated that if the City were to cut additional sworn officer
positions there could be a great impact on the community in that there could be a reduction in
enforcement of escalating problems such as drug abuse, fighting, underage drinking, etc.”
Motion by Haley, seconded by Gregorio, to approve the Police Commission minutes of the
March 2, 2011 regularly scheduled meeting as amended.
Voting Aye: Gregorio, Haley, Roberts.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
Update on Status of New Officers
Chairman Haley requested an update on the new officers. Deputy Chief Lumber advised Officer
Voelker is soloing on patrol having completed his field training program. Officer O’Brien
graduated last week and has begun her field training program this week.
Chairman Haley noted he has met several of the new officers at community functions and is
impressed with their comportment. The City has been fortunate in the quality of its recent
officer recruits.
Testing Firm Options
Deputy Chief Lumber stated he had sought information and quotes from two testing firms:
Stanard & Associate and IO Solutions.
Deputy Chief Lumber noted Stanard was the firm utilized during the testing process in 2009.
The cost of services provided was $2,650 for 45 candidates. The test included both written and
physical agility elements. Overall, he opined the Department was not happy with the results of
the written test which appeared to be skewed as so many of the recruits achieved a score of
90% or greater. The results did not provide an accurate rendering of a candidate list as far as
actual mental acuity. In general, the questions appeared to be too easy in each of the four
segments:
1) Reading and Comprehension;
2) Grammar;
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April 6, 2011
3) Arithmetic;
4) Report Writing.
Commissioner Roberts noted the test provided by Stanard did not discriminate between ability
levels of potential candidates.
Deputy Chief Lumber stated the proposal from IO Solutions included a great marketing
presentation of materials. The services included in the proposal are:
1) Written exam at a cost of $21/person to administer the test;
2) National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (NCJOSI) integrity element to be
included with written exam;
3) Physical agility test.
The total cost quoted by IO Solutions for the services is $63/person.
Deputy Chief Lumber concluded stating it would be Staff’s recommendation to utilize the
services of IO Solutions for the 2011 testing procedures for the creation of a new candidate
entry level list.
Chairman Haley concurred with Deputy Chief Lumber’s assessment as did Commissioner
Roberts. It was the consensus of the Commission to proceed with utilizing the services of IO
Solutions for the 2011 testing process.
Discussion: Timeline for Testing Schedule and Posting of New Candidate Entry Level List
Chairman Haley requested input on selecting a potential date for written and physical agility
testing.
Deputy Chief Lumber stated he had tentatively booked Saturday, July 9, 2011 for the City’s
testing by IO Solutions as that was the first available date indicated by the firm. The
Commission concurred with establishing July 9th as the testing date by IO Solutions.
Following discussion it was the consensus to propose the following tentative timeline for the
2011 process:
Post advertisement for recruits May 18, 2011
Accept applications for recruits May 18, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. until June 17, 2011 at 5 p.m.
Final application deadline June 17, 2011 5 p.m.
Interviews Saturday, August 13, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Post Candidate Entry Level List No later than 5 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2011
It was the consensus of the Commission to utilize the same manner of interview technique as
that which proved successful during the 2009 process. Interviews would be scheduled for one‐
hour blocks during which two teams would interview the candidates in ½ hour or less
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April 6, 2011
increments. Teams would be comprised of a mix of commissioners and Staff. Each team would
have a specific set of questions which would be asked of each candidate so as to provide
consistency.
Chairman Haley requested Staff create new scenario questions for use during the interview
process. He then provided the commissioners and Staff with copies of the interview questions
utilized during the 2009 process and requested they review and amend them and bring
suggestions for modification or improvement to the next meeting. Chairman Haley also
suggested the commissioners and Staff review the evaluation form utilized during the last
process, offering any recommendations for change at the next meeting as well.
Some discussion occurred regarding methods and means of evaluating candidates and how to
weigh the various facets of the testing and interview process prior to establishing the ultimate
recruit eligibility list. Discussion also occurred regarding the pros and cons of hiring rookies
versus candidates with experience and the potential issues which could result from hiring
candidates from other police departments.
Other Business
Chairman Haley proposed the following Agenda for the May 4, 2011 regularly scheduled
meeting:
a) Consideration of minutes of April 6, 2011 regularly scheduled meeting;
b) Update on new officers;
c) Confirm testing, interview and recruit eligibility list posting schedule;
d) Discuss and finalize interview questions and evaluation process
3) Other business.
There was no other business discussed.
Adjournment
Motion by Gregorio, seconded by Roberts to adjourn the meeting at 4:42 p.m.
Voting Aye: Gregorio, Haley, Roberts.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________
Kathleen M Kunzer, Deputy Clerk