Editor’s Note: As you will see below in the meeting minutes,
a meeting took place with Perez, Police Chief Kirk, Deputy Chief Allen Sherven, Deputy Chief Bob Woj’s,
and Officer John Winter. After the
recall effort began, a Ms. Beth Pinter wrote a letter to the Editor of the
Where did Ms. Pinter get this
information from? It certainly was not from an open records request … it had to
be from a source that had instant access to these meeting minutes.
If you view a copy of her letter on the
Press Web site, you will see an exact rendition of the bullet points in the
scanned meeting minutes as follows:
Meeting in Mayor's Office February 21, 2006
Mayor Juan Perez, Police Chief David Kirk, Deputy Chief Allen Sherven, Deputy
Chief Bob Woj's, Officer John Winter
Notes taken by Mary Rajer
This meeting was regarding a letter drafted by Officer Winter to the Council and the media regarding the Sheboygan Professional Police Association's perception of a hostile environment between the mayor, certain members of the council and the SPPA.
Chief Kirk started by saying that he appreciates the way Off. Winter stood up for the department. His concerns were that the mayor has been very supportive of the police department and that should not be overlooked. Chief Kirk heard that Wally EndsJey had approached Mayor Perez and personally talked to him about concerns that the union had but did not write a letter. When the mayor first saw the letter from Off. Winter he was upset and wanted to talk about it at Council but talked to Chief Kirk first and decided to sit down and talk to Off. Winter about it. The mayor was disturbed because he has not done anything to create a hostile environment or form of harassment as the letter states. He went on to list the numerous things he has done to show his support of the police department:
" Stood by Chief Kirk when the integrity of the Police Department was questioned during the Isaac Thomas incident.
• Traveled to
they
were recognized as a state accredited police department.
« Stood by Chief Kirk when the donation for tasers was questions by some members of the Finance Committee.
•
Supported Chief Kirk in permitting the Police Department
to get more
money than they requested when the 2006 budget was adopted.
•
Supported and has made certain the new police station is
built next year.
•
Supported the police department and Neighbors Against Drugs when they
wanted
signs put up in neighborhoods at the entrances to the city.
•
Found a way to finance cameras for the tasers so our police officers would
be
protected should their use of tasers be questioned.
•
Found a way to finance the.badly
needed squad car cameras in order to
protect
our officers during patrol stops.
•
Supported the fight against illegal drug trafficking and
use by finding
additional
funds, $28,000 to fully fund the MEG Unit during 2006 after their
budget
had been cut down to only $38,000
•
Found a way to put together a 5-year plan to fund the MEG
Unit after the
federal funding ended.
•
Stood next to Chief Kirk when the integrity of the police
department was
put in question by comments made regarding the closing of
•
Stood by Chief Kirk and spoke against an amendment to
delay the
purchase
of tasers until the taser
cameras were secured at council
meeting
on 2-20-06.
Officer Winter explained that the reaction he gets from other officers is that there is a high degree of frustration with city government and the mayor, Aid. Suscha and other members of the council. He said that things were not always rosy with Schramm either but the general feeling was that Mayor Perez is hard to approach.
Police officers have asked that Aid. Suscha be removed from PPS. She is difficult to work with. To them perception is reality and the perception is that she is hard to work with. Mistrust is there.
Officer Winter does recognize the things the mayor has done but most officers feel it is one step forward and one step back. Most officers' perception is that city government is against the police department.
Officer Winter does prefer verbal communication rather than written to convey to mayor the level of frustration officer are feeling.
The mayor will put every effort forth to work together towards common goal. He is willing to put aside issue about letter. The unions should look at the whole picture - don't ignore all that has been done. Can't do everything you want done, every time.
Mayor emphasized the danger of not being able to have an open, candid discussion - when it goes to the public someone always looks bad. Keep the lines of communication open.
Officer Winter suggested the mayor visit roll call periodically to keep in touch with officers so they learn he is approachable and supportive. (Roll call at 20 minutes before each shift starts - 6:40, 2:40, 10:40)