Woodstock BOFPC suspends officer

The Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners met briefly at 5:00PM at police headquarters. In addition to the 3-man Board and recording secretary Tamara Reed, Brian Slupski of the Northwest Herald and I were there.

The only matter of business was an Executive Session, following which the Board announced its decision to suspend Officer Jim O'Doherty without , effective today. A hearing has been tentatively scheduled for March 23, 2009, at 5:00PM at the Woodstock City Hall.

The Board refused to identify the charges filed by the Chief of Police against Officer O'Doherty, stating it would be necessary to file a Freedom of Information Act Request. So be it. It has already been faxed to the police department.

Before the meeting I inquired whether I could obtain a copy of the Minutes for the March 2nd meeting, but approval of those Minutes was omitted from the Agenda. I was told that the Board could not approve the Minutes, because that action was not on the Agenda.

Hopefully, someone will remember to include approval of Minutes of previous Meetings on the agenda for the next meeting.