Jackson commission continues interviews to fill lieutenant vacancy, moves into closed session on personnel

The Village of Jackson Police and Fire Commission on Jan. 7 said it will continue candidate interviews to fill a vacancy created by Lieutenant Todd Freestad’s retirement and will hold a closed session under Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c) to consider employment-related matters.

Commission President said the panel would continue interviews that night and that the commission is still looking to fill the vacancy created by Lieutenant Todd Freestad’s retirement; the commission also expects an additional position to open on July 1. “We continue interviews tonight. Still looking to fill the vacancy created by Lieutenant Todd Freestad's retirement. We'll have an additional position to fill, July 1,” the Commission President said.

The Police Chief told commissioners the department is adapting its hiring procedures to a faster timetable for screening applicants. “The procedures are working well. It's certainly a different ball game as far as police recruitment and hiring,” the Chief said. He described the department’s current practice of reviewing applications as they arrive and scheduling interviews for candidates who meet minimum requirements and initial assessments, adding, “That's what we have to do and that's what we've been doing.”

A commissioner asked whether that faster screening process requires changes to commission or department policies. The Chief responded that the existing rules provide sufficient latitude and that he saw no conflict with department policy: “No. I believe there's enough latitude here that we're continuing to work within the confines of the — and there's no conflict with our police department policies, so we're in a good spot.”

Earlier in the meeting the commission approved minutes from the Jan. 7, 2025, Police and Fire Commission meeting after a motion and second; one commissioner present, Jeffrey, voiced “Aye” during the vote and the Commission President declared the motion passed. The Commission President also noted the reappointment of a member identified as Doug for another term and that no new members were being introduced that night.

The Commission moved to a closed session at 6:04 p.m. The Commission President read the statutory basis for the closed session as Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c), which permits a governmental body to deliberate concerning employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction. A motion and second were made to enter closed session and the Commission President called for and received the ayes.

No formal personnel actions (appointments, promotions, hires or discipline) were announced in the public portion of the meeting. The Chief said he planned to discuss potential future interview dates later in the meeting. The commission indicated it would continue interviews and follow its established procedures for immediate review and interview scheduling when applications meet minimum requirements.

For clarity: the transcript identifies the Lieutenant who retired as Todd Freestad; the meeting referenced Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c) as the authority for closing the meeting to the public to consider personnel matters.