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922 W. EXCHANGE STREET, BRODHEAD, WI 53520
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
Albany police chief submits resignation By Tony Ends
CORRESPONDENT
Police Chief James Placek, who went on administrative leave Aug. 30, has resigned after 16 years full time with Albany’s police force. Village President Kim Blumer confirmed last Monday, Nov. 28, that Placek submitted his letter of resignation Nov. 22. Police Sgt. Robert Ritter has been overseeing Albany’s police department for three months, and he will continue to do so, Blumer said. “Officer Ritter has Albany’s law enforcement under control,” Blumer said, following a village personnel committee meeting Monday night, “and he is capable of handling the position. “The village is trying to ensure we have an efficient police staff. For the foreseeable future, we’re going to keep using this arrangement,” he said, with Ritter as officer in charge, rather than going immediately through another hiring process for a police chief. Placek replaced Albany’s longtime police Chief Bob Levitt, who retired after leading the department since October 1998. Previously, Levitt had also served with the Cary, Ill., police department for 23 years. Through associates last week, Placek said he did not want to make a public comment about leaving Albany’s police force. He was sworn in as chief March 14 but continued to get coaching
W2620 State Rd. 11/81 •Juda, WI. Auto Detailing Available
Orfordville holds lighted parade
from Levitt into April. He then held the position of police chief for only four months. By state statute, the village board had to appoint a three-person police disciplinary commission during Placek’s absence, Blumer said. Placek’s letter of resignation went to that three-person panel, and the village attorney will present it to the board for action at their next meeting. Albany had a population of a little more than 1,000 in the 2010 census. Under Levitt, the police force operated with two full-time sergeants (Placek and Ritter), hiring part-time police for special events as needed. Personnel committee members of the board said Monday that they will ask the village clerk to update the website to reflect police staff changes. Police Officer Logan Lange, who started working with the police department in April 2014, has been assisting Ritter. In other village business Monday, the personnel committee discussed: *Gift cards to employees, partand full-time, and the PDC Committee; *Ways to track employees’ hours worked, use of a time clock, time card policies and core hours, all to better demonstrate accountability. Work supervisors and the village clerk are going to initiate changes for two months and report back to the committee.
SIARA SCHWARTZLOW PHOTOS Brodhead Independent-Register
Community members were treated to a lighted parade in Orfordville last Saturday, Dec. 3. The parade included buses, fire trucks, tractors, horses, and more.
One fatality in Rock County fire The body of Thomas MacGowan, 62, was recovered following a residential structure fire at 10316 Highway 81 in the Town of Newark. The fire was reported to authorities at 6:03 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. A forensic autopsy was completed at the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office on Nov. 30. Preliminary
results of that autopsy confirm that MacGowan’s death was the result of injuries sustained in the fire. Additional testing is underway at this time. This death remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshall’s Office, and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.
The event also included a number of youth groups, including student musicians and 4-H club members.
Surprise 90th Birthday Party for
Lucille Brooks Saturday, december 10th ~ 9am-3pm Over 30 Vendors + Crafters! Raffles • Door Prizes • Concessions Santa will be there all day!
Saturday, December 10th, 12:30 - 3:30 pm at American Legion Hall,
1627 12th Avenue, Monroe, WI. Please Omit Gifts
Sponsored by Juda Booster Club
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