Friction continues with Gilberts chief

The refusal of Gilberts Police Chief Mike Joswick to develop or suggest specific criteria for evaluating officers and the department is the reason he is on thin ice with the village board, Gilberts Village President Rick Zirk said Friday.

"We need the 'serve' part to be as important as the 'protect' part," Zirk said. "(Joswick) is not interested in doing whatever were asking him to do because he doesn't think there's a problem."

Zirk, who was elected president this past spring, said the department and its officers - fair or not - have a reputation of being unfriendly and overly aggressive.

He and village trustee asked Joswick to help address the problem but to no avail, Zirk said.

So the police chief position has been re-advertised and trustees at their July 28 meeting likely will consider bringing in an outside firm to evaluate the department from the bottom up.

"We need a guy in that spot who is going to take these things the board is willing to do and move them forward," Zirk said. "Asking the department to address specific complaints we're receiving is not inappropriate."

The issue has sparked interest from residents, some of whom went door-to-door for several weeks collecting 610 signatures supporting Joswick. Those signatures were presented to the village board this week.

Reached by phone Friday, Joswick said the show of support indicates residents think he and his officers are doing a good job. He said he is working with Zirk and trustees to address complaints and clear lines of communication.

The chief said he developed a four-question "Department Contact Survey" in mid-June asking recipients to rate the courtesy, professionalism and service of officers responding to a call. Joswick said he did not receive feedback from trustees until this week.

"In my view, it's more of a misunderstanding than anything else," Joswick said. "We try to do the best we can. It's a tightrope. We have to walk down that narrow line."

Trustee Bruce Erbeck, who was first elected in 2007 and has worked with Joswick on several committees, said the search is about ensuring Gilberts has the best people in the top positions.

"Chief Joswick has done a fantastic job during the time I've known him," Erbeck said. "The board's job in this matter is to seek the best candidate to represent the village in that role.

"The board as a whole should not be chastised for wanting to have the best people in leadership roles," he added. "Accountable? Yes. Chastised? No."

Village Administrator Ray Keller said 47 people, including Joswick, have applied for the chief's position. If the board wants a new chief, Joswick will be demoted to lieutenant.

No matter what happens, Joswick said he has no intention of leaving the department.

"I chose this town for my career. If they move me to a lieutenant's position, that's the position I'll hold," he said. "I'll continue to work to make this village safe."