Dear Editor,
As Trustees representing all Village residents we need to be open minded and objective when regarding issues before us. This includes options for the future policing of the Village, which also includes preparing to rebuild and strengthen the OPD if that is the people’s end decision after reviewing the data being prepared by the two Public Safety Committees.
With that in mind, when the Mayor called for the Personnel Committee to convene and interview candidates for possible hiring as full-time and part-time Village Police Officers I said yes. However, I also stressed to the Mayor and Chief Vinti from the beginning of the interviews that: a) I wanted us to be upfront with the candidates that we could not make a firm commitment at this time as we are waiting on the outcome on the data received from the two Public Safety Committees, and b) that thorough background checks had to be done. The Mayor and Chief Vinti agreed and we stated such multiple times to each of the candidates that we were interested in – that we could not make a firm commitment to any of them at this time.
There were candidates that, on paper and interviews, look viable but we need thorough background checks performed to ensure they are indeed whom we want to hire. I made it clear, both verbally and in writing, to the Mayor, Chief Vinti and the Village Attorney that I did not want us to recreate the same hiring blunders of the past that has literally cost the Village taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to adjudicate or mitigate and has also been part of the internal problems plaguing the OPD, by rushing the background checks.
If we are going to rebuild and strengthen the OPD then let’s take the time to do it right and do thorough background checks first, not after we hire. The Village Board enacted an agreement with the PBA for the hiring of “experienced” retired police officers, so we could have time do it right this time.
How many businesses do you know that hires first and then does background searches after? Typical format is that a business lets you know they are interested in you, and if your background and references check out they make you an offer. The argument that “in the past we have always hired first and performed the background after” is unwise, not in the taxpayers’ best interest, and is what brought us expensive and internal personnel problems to resolve.
Most, if not all, policing agencies have Standard Operating Protocols (SOP’s) for ensuring that a thorough and in-depth background check is performed. I have asked Chief Vinti and the Mayor to see our SOP for background checks and have yet to receive it. So what is the process by which we research and vet any candidate for such a critical responsibility? The Village Board set in-place very rigorous protocols for the Fire Department that have to be met, but apparently we are to be less diligent when hiring Police Officers.
At the close of the candidates’ interviews, I agreed that the Chief would let the selected candidates know that we were interested them. Apparently the Mayor construed that to mean we were hiring them immediately before background checks were made, which was not and was never my intent! My responsibility to the taxpayers is not to do things in a quick and haphazardly manner, because that is how it was done in the past.
It was frustrating and disappointing that the Mayor would not allow appropriate discussion with the public regarding their questions on such a crucial issue when asked.
Respectfully yours,
Earl Hartman
Trustee Ward 2
