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Council rejects state-imposed merit system for Bloomington Police Department; department to hold statutory vote
Summary
By a 7–0 vote, the Bloomington Common Council adopted Resolution 2024‑21 rejecting establishment of a state‑created merit system for the police department; the action enables the department to hold its internal statutory vote and preserves a Board of Public Safety role, per city attorneys and the police chief.
The Bloomington Common Council voted unanimously on Nov. 6 to reject establishment of a state‑created merit board for the Bloomington Police Department, clearing the way for the department to follow statutory next steps and hold its own internal vote.
Christopher Wheeler, with City Legal, described the legislative sequence required by 2023 state law: without council action the city would automatically have new merit systems for qualifying responder departments; the council's resolution allows the police department to take the next statutorily required step. Wheeler told the council, “If we do nothing, on December 30... we just automatically have not one, but two merit systems in place,” and explained the administrative steps the city would face if the board were established.
Chief Mike Deacoff (police chief) told the council the department held an internal straw poll that favored rejecting the merit system, and he reported the department’s count as 68 to 14 in that straw poll. He said the department prefers retaining the existing Board of Public Safety arrangement because it believes that board can continue to perform many oversight functions.
Council members asked whether the decision could be revisited; City Legal said departments may later return to council to pursue a merit system by following statutory steps. Several council members said short‑term operational concerns (staffing levels and where department members would sit on a merit board) informed the police preference.
The council adopted Resolution 2024‑21 by roll call vote 7–0. The passage allows the Board of Public Safety to issue notice to eligible department members and proceed with the meeting to vote to accept or reject the merit system under the statute.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2024‑21 (reject establishment of a merit system for the Bloomington Police Department) — Adopted 7–0.
Next steps: The Board of Public Safety will notify eligible, full‑time department members and conduct the meeting required by statute for the department vote.
