Fire and Police Commission moves into closed session to consider two promotions

Commissioner Horowitz said the Fire and Police Commission voted to convene a closed session at its Oct. 16, 2025 executive meeting to consider personnel promotions.

"The board may receive a motion to convene in closed session pursuant to section 19.85 sub 1 sub c of the Wisconsin statutes to consider the promotions of Sergeant Jason Kortarek and to the police lieutenant position and police officer John Kohler junior to the detective position," Commissioner Horowitz said, referencing the statutory authority for executive sessions.

The chair asked for a motion, which was "so moved" and "seconded" on the record; the transcript does not identify who made or seconded the motion. During a subsequent voice vote the chair asked "All those in favor, please signify by saying I," and the recorded transcript captures two "I" responses before the chair stated, "Motion carries." The transcript does not attribute individual votes by name or record the full roll-call on the record.

Commissioner Horowitz also said the board might reconvene in open session after the executive session to address the promotion items. At the close of the recorded sequence he announced, "We are now in closed session."

No additional details about the promotions — including effective dates, salary adjustments, or the final outcome of the personnel decisions — appear in the public portion of the transcript. The commission identified the employees under consideration by name in the public motion but deliberations and any formal votes on promotions, if they occurred, were conducted in the closed session and are not included in the public record provided.

Next procedural step: the commission entered closed session to consider the named personnel matters and indicated an intention to return to open session for any subsequent public actions or announcements.