Mokena Approves Appointment Of New Member Board Of Fire And Police Commission

Mokena IL

11 August, 2021

12:02 PM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press: MOKENA, Ill. — The Village of Mokena's Board of Fire and Police Commission has a new member. The Village Board of Trustees voted 6-0 Monday, Aug. 9, to approve the appointment of Mark W. Anderson to the commission. Mayor Frank Fleischer said he had previously spoken with Anderson, who had expressed an interest in serving on the commission. "Mr. Anderson, who is a resident of Mokena, is a retired Air Force major general with over 37 years combined active duty and reserve service," Fleischer said. "I want to thank him for his continued service before self," Budzyn said. "One of the core values of the Air Force is service before self, and he has stepped up once again to serve the Village of Mokena." With the appointment to the commission — which is required by state law and is responsible for the recruiting, testing, hiring, disciplining, and firing of sworn police officers — Anderson joins recently appointed Commissioner John Madden. There is still one vacancy on the Board of Fire and Police Commission. Anderson is filling the slot formerly held by Commission Chairman Ronald Brannan, who was removed during a special hearing of the Village Board on July 14. In a document obtained by Richard Free Press through a Freedom of Information Act request, Brannan was informed of the impending hearing on June 30 in a letter signed by Fleischer. "The Village Board has good cause to believe that you should removed as a Commissioner of the Village of Mokena Board of Fire and Police Commission," the letter stated. "You are charged with violating your oath of office by communicating with an officer prior to a Board of Fire and Police Commission hearing, creating the appearance of impropriety and for providing incomplete or misleading information to the Village during its review of the same." On Friday, Aug. 6, Village Administrator John Tomasoski declined to comment on the name of the officer Brannan was alleged to have communicated with prior to the commission meeting. After Brannan was removed on July 14, former commission member Christopher Surdel submitted a letter of resignation to the Village on July 15. Then, on July 26, Fleischer chose not to reappoint Michael Moran to the commission — opting instead to appoint Madden to a three-year term.During Trustee Comments at the end of the Aug. 9 meeting, Budzyn acknowledged the former members of the commission. He noted that Moran was one of the initial commission members and "served admirably" for more than 30 years, while Brannan took over as chairman of the commission in 2015 after Budzyn — a former commissioner — was elected as a trustee. Budzyn also said Surdel, a retired Mokena Police officer, "brought a great deal of experience to the commission and local knowledge." "To Mike, Ron and Chris: Thank you for your service to the Village, and thank you for all you've done," Budzyn said. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.