Metro East Sun

City of Edwardsville Board of Fire & Police Commissioners met March 5

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners was called to order at 5:00 pm in the Governor Ford Conference Room at Edwardsville City Hall with Chairman John W. McCracken presiding. 

Commissioners Attending: John W. McCracken; John Cunningham; Mary Ann Harris; Jean Hughes and Roger L. Huber Also Attending: Police Chief Mike Fillback; Fire Chief James Whiteford; City Attorney Jeff Berkbigler and EPD Detective Conor Hoyland 

Public Comment: No comments from the public were either submitted by email or telephonically 

Approval of Prior Minutes: Commissioner Hughes moved to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on January 23, 2024 and the Regular Meeting held March 5, 2024. The Motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris. Motion carried. 

Communications: The Board took notice of correspondence from Mayor Risavy authorizing the hiring of (2) Probationary Patrol Officers for the EPD to backfill two positions to replace the positions for Officer Justin Von Bokel and Officer Jacob Lively. 

Administrative: At 6:00 pm, Commissioner Cunningham made a Motion to adjourn from Open and reconvene in Closed Session. The Motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris to conduct a Lateral Officer Applicant Interview for Nicholas Hoefling. Motion carried. 

At 6:30 pm, the Board adjourned from Open Session to reconvene in Closed Session to conduct a personal oral interview with Lateral Applicant, Richard "Ricky" Eaves. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the Motion which carried without dissent. 

Fire Department: Discussion was held regarding a Report filed by Fire & Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI) dated February 22, 2024 analyzing the results of Written Testing for Probationary Firefighter-EMT conducted February 17, 2024 for (73) applicants comprised of 65 males and 8 females. After further discussion, Commissioner Cunningham made a Motion to establish a "Cut-Off Score" of 83 (Raw Score 90) enumerating (18) applicants to be selected for Oral Interviews/Ladder Climb on the afternoons of March 26, 27 and 28, 2024. Commissioner Harris seconded the Motion which carried unanimously. 

Police Department: A lengthy discussion was held regarding the latest Lateral Officer Hiring List comprising (4) candidates; namely Davis, Hoefling, Bedwin and Paris. Despite numerous attempts to secure additional documentation from Candidate #1, Meredith Davis, to move forward to complete the hiring process, investigators have not been successful in getting Davis to respond in a timely manner. Commissioner Huber made a Motion to rescind the Conditional Offer of Employment to Candidate Davis and strike her name from the List. Commissioner Hughes seconded the Motion, which carried with Commissioners Huber, Harris and Hughes voting in favor of the Motion, Commissioner McCracken voted "Nay" and Commissioner Cunningham abstained.

Police Department (Cont'd): In connection with a presentation by Detective Hoyland detailing the results of a pre-employment background investigation for Lateral Probationary Candidate Nicholas Hoefling, a sworn officer with the El Paso (IL) Police Department, along with a Final Personal Interview, Commissioner Huber made a Motion to rescind the Conditional Offer of Employment previously extended to Hoefling and hire him as a full time Probationary Officer. Commissioner Hughes seconded the Motion which carried with all Commissioners voting "Aye." 

Commissioner Harris made a Motion to tender Conditional Offers of Employment to Lateral Candidates: Ibraham Bedwin an officer with SWIC and Remington Paris an officer with the Mt. Vernon (IL) Police Department in order to proceed with intensive pre-employment background investigations. Commissioner Hughes seconded the Motion which carried unanimously. 

After a personal Oral Interview, Commissioner Hughes with a second by Commissioner Cunningham, made a Motion to authorize a Conditional Offer of Employment to be extended to Lateral Patrol Officer Applicant Richard "Ricky" Eaves, currently a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the Motion, which carried without dissent. 

Upcoming dates for Police (New Hire) Probationary Officer Testing were reiterated, as follows: 

Deadline for Applications 

Written Test Date 

Oral Interviews 

Friday, March 29 (4:00 pm) Saturday, April 20 (8:00 am to Noon) May 21-23 (if three days are needed) 

With no further business to be conducted, the Meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm. 

https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03052024-3299