Muskego City Police and Fire Commission reelects president, moves into closed session on officer personnel; chief reports staffing pressures, plans promotion

The Muskego City Police and Fire Commission at its regularly scheduled meeting voted to reelect its incumbent commission president, named Peter Jeske as vice president/secretary, approved minutes from Feb. 20 and unanimously voted in favor of convening a closed session to discuss an officer personnel matter under Wisconsin Statute §19.85(1)(c).

The commission also heard a report from the police chief, who said he attended the FBI National Academy leadership symposium and described persistent staffing shortages across law enforcement agencies. The chief said a candidate who serves as the school resource officer, identified in the record as Sangretti (also spelled in the transcript as Sandretti), will be recommended for promotion to sergeant at the commission's next meeting and that the promotion will require a formal vote.

"I attended a leadership symposium in Washington last week. It's part of the FBI National Academy," the police chief said. "When we talk about market conditions ... 39 of them are not at full strength," he added, describing recruitment and retention pressures he said departments are experiencing. The chief said the promotion recommendation for the school resource officer will appear on the next meeting agenda for a formal vote.

The chief also outlined several department engagements and community events: participation in the Special Olympics and a planned run with cadets and torch-lighting; participation in the Law Enforcement Memorial hosted by the county sheriff's department, where the chief said Captain Symunczyk (transcript spelling varies) and the department's canine officer, Sirius, will be recognized; the "Jammer in the Park" event at Veterans Park; and coordination with local organizers for Holly's Hope. He also described a local "Midnight Bagpiper" program in which a bagpiper would play taps or "Amazing Grace" late in the evening as part of Police Week observances.

Before moving to closed session the commission approved the Feb. 20 meeting minutes by voice vote. The motion to convene in closed session was made and carried on a roll call vote in which Commissioners present recorded "yes." The closed-session notice read at the meeting cited Wisconsin State statute section 19.85(1)(c), the statute authorizing governmental bodies to meet in closed session to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of public employees.

After the closed session the commission returned to open session and completed election of officers. The motion to reelect the commission's incumbent president passed on a voice vote. Commissioners then voted to elect Peter Jeske as vice president/secretary; the motion passed by voice vote.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried on a voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Feb. 20): motion passed (voice vote). Mover/second not specified in the public record. - Motion to convene closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(c) to discuss an officer personnel matter: passed (roll call yes votes). Recorded roll-call responses in the meeting transcript include affirmative responses from the commissioners present. - Election of commission president: incumbent re-elected (voice vote). The transcript records the nomination and an affirmative vote; the motion passed. - Election of vice president/secretary: Peter Jeske elected (voice vote). - Adjournment: motion passed (voice vote).

The commission did not disclose details of the closed-session discussion in the public record; the meeting notice indicated the closed session would cover an officer personnel matter and that any public agenda items not acted on prior to the closed session could be taken up afterward. The police chief's promotion recommendation for the school resource officer will be placed on a future public agenda for formal consideration and vote.