LETTER: Police chief’s training is questioned

To the Editor:

Roberts Police Chief Dan Burgess, who was hired in November 2009, began the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command Class on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at the Hudson Police Department.

He will attend 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for five weeks. Then there is a two week break and the class will continue for five more weeks from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until it ends on Friday, April 26, 2013.

The class costs $3,650. Chief Burgess received a $1,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, so the Village of Roberts will pay $2,650. However, the Village of Roberts will also pay his salary and benefits for those 10 weeks at approximately $11,345. The village will therefore be paying about $14,000 for Chief Burgess to be absent from the village for 10 weeks to attend a class “…that prepares law enforcement managers for senior positions…” Isn’t a police chief already a senior position?

Due to the forced resignation of senior Police Officer Sonia Kubesh, who was hired in June 2000, Roberts will have only two full-time police officers on duty for the 10 weeks of Chief Burgess’ class. Officer Aaron McWilliams and Officer Todd Shafer began full-time in April 2012.

Roberts Village President Willard Moeri and Trustees Terry Dull, Marge Wolske, Chuck Pizzi and Nate Stork voted to approve the class for Chief Burgess. Trustees Katy Kapaun and Don Gerhardt voted against the class.

This class will enhance Chief Burgess’ resume but appears to have no benefit for the residents of the Village of Roberts.

Peter Tharp

Roberts

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion