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Tuesday's Hearing for Ellis
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By Andrew Kuehl
akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
KEWASKUM- The Kewaskum Police and Fire Commission met with attorneys representing Police Officer Troy Ellis and police Chief Richard Knoebel Tuesday evening, May 29. About 25 people attended the
preliminary hearing.
The first order of business was to adopt the rules of procedures for the disciplinary hearing. The commission’s attorney Paul Alexy presented these procedures at the commission’s May 21 meeting. All commissioners voted in favor of the procedures.
Attorney Nancy Pirkey who is representing Chief Knoebel anticipating bringing in about six witnesses. Ellis' attorney anticipated anywhere from five to ten witnesses. Some of which could be witnesses of both Ellis and Chief Knoebel.
The commissioners decided that the hearings would be heard over a period of two days, Tuesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 28. Both hearings would begin at 5 p.m. hearings would go no later than 10 p.m.
Troy Ellis, a member of the Kewaskum Police Department for 18 years is on administrative leave from the department while a decision regarding his employment is made. This is the first time Ellis has had any disciplinary actions taken against him.
Chief Knoebel requested charges for Ellis for violating the following procedures and policies unbecoming conduct, immoral conduct, off-duty hours and use of alcohol. He is asking that Ellis’ employment be terminated from the police department.
The village’s Police and Fire Commission accepted those charges on May 7. The charges stem from a March 18, 2007 incident where Ellis is believed to have entered his neighbor’s house thinking it was his own. That neighbor called police not knowing Ellis was a member of the department. One of Ellis’ fellow officers responded and removed him from the residence and took him to his own home.
Ellis also admitted to drinking 10 beers and then driving his vehicle to a local bar and drinking more. He asserts that he did not drive himself home but could not remember who drove him from the bar.
Last week The Statesman reported that Ellis has been entitled to collect his $999.60 weekly salary since being put on administrative leave on April 28. During the course of the week The Statesman obtained invoices for attorney’s fees for Chief Knoebel’s attorney. Those fees through April amount to $1,969.50.
Amounts for the Police and Fire Commission attorney have not been processed at this time. By the start of the hearing on June 28, Ellis will have received approximately $10,196.54.
A pdf copy of Chief Knoebel’s charges against Ellis can be downloaded by clicking here.
To listen to audio of the preliminary hearing, click here.
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