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Ottawa board denies employment to two fire-hire candidates after failed background checks
Summary
The City of Ottawa Board of Fire and Police Commissioners voted June 25 to deny employment to two applicants for the Ottawa Fire Department after background checks failed; the board entered executive session to review the checks and said it will contact the next eligible candidates.
The City of Ottawa Board of Fire and Police Commissioners voted June 25 to deny employment to two candidates for the Ottawa Fire Department after the candidates failed background checks, the board’s minutes show.
Chair Kenneth Brown called the special meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. and the board recorded there were no public comments. The board first approved the minutes of its May 13, 2026, meeting on a motion by Secretary Steve Malinsky, seconded by Brown; the motion passed with all ayes.
The board then moved, on a motion by Malinsky and a second from Brown, to enter executive session to discuss background details on two new fire-hire candidates. The minutes record the board entered executive session at 10:08 a.m. and returned to open session at 10:28 a.m.
After returning to open session the board discussed whether to approve employment for the two candidates. On motions recorded in the minutes, the board denied employment to Bryan Cocallas and to Frank Jilek “due to failure of background check.” Each denial was moved and seconded and recorded as passing with all ayes. The minutes state the board will contact the next eligible candidates to continue the hiring process as approved in the May 13, 2026, meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m. on a motion by Brown, seconded by Malinsky. The minutes were submitted by Haley Roalson.
