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Record of Proceedings

Joliet Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Meeting - February 9, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, February 9, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:45

Okay.

0:47

Yeah, how's this?

0:49

Tom, make sure your mic's up there.

0:54

You're kind of short.

0:58

All right, ready?

1:01

And we're rolling.

1:02

Okay.

1:04

Spring to order.

1:05

The uh City of Joliet, Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, uh monthly meeting.

1:12

Monday, February 9th, 2026, 5 30 p.m.

1:15

Start with a roll call.

1:17

Um Commissioner Pontz here.

1:19

Commissioner Strocha.

1:21

And Commissioner Stefansky is present.

1:23

We have a quorum.

1:25

All right, let's move on to approval of minutes.

1:29

Um need a uh motion to approve uh January 12th meeting minutes.

1:37

Motion and a second.

1:39

Very good.

1:39

Motioned by Commissioner Strocha and seconded by Commissioner Pontz.

1:45

Um in favor?

1:47

Aye.

1:48

Aye.

1:48

Any opposed?

1:50

Very good.

1:51

Approval has passed.

1:53

Uh citizens to be heard on agenda items.

1:56

Any citizens out there?

1:58

Just one.

2:00

Very good.

2:01

Uh none present.

2:03

Uh none to be heard.

2:05

Uh we'll move on to the Secretary's report.

2:08

Um what do we have?

2:10

From the police department.

2:12

Uh applicant number sixty-seven.

2:14

Enrique Almazon was removed from the list, failure to meet requirements.

2:19

That was on 112 of 26.

2:22

Applicant number 71, Angel Ortega Sant, removed from the list for failure to remeet requirements.

2:31

That was on 114 of 2026.

2:34

Lloyd Van Lysum was also removed.

2:38

That was uh applicant number 73, removed for failure to meet requirements also on 18 of 26.

2:46

Applicant 77, Angel Garcia was removed for failure to meet requirements also on 114 of 26.

2:56

Applicant number 78, Ryan Davis withdrew on 114 of 2026.

3:03

Jesus Cavillo removed failure to meet requirements also.

3:08

Uh 116 of 26.

3:14

Withdrew from the list on 121 of 26.

3:19

Samuel Garcia, number 84, uh was removed for failure to remit requirements on 121 26.

3:28

Applicant number 85, Tyler Robertson was removed for failure to remit requirements.

3:35

On 127 and 26.

3:38

Uh applicant number 86, Jordan Wiles withdrew from the list on 121 of 26.

3:46

And applicant 87, Monica Cologne also withdrew on 127 to 26.

3:53

Applicant number 89, Sandy Solozano was removed for failure to remit requirements on 128 or 26.

4:03

Applicant number 90, Leon Stiff was removed for failure to meet requirements on two, four of twenty-six.

4:11

From our lateral list, lateral police list.

4:15

Um applicant number one, Adrian Moreno, removed from the list for failure to remit requirements on two, three of twenty-six.

4:28

Matthew Zieger was removed for failure to remit requirements on one twenty-nine of twenty-six.

4:43

And on our lateral list number seven, Robert Hubner was removed for also failure to remeet requirements.

4:53

On the fire side, there is nothing.

4:55

So that would be uh that would conclude the Secretary's report.

5:00

was removed for failure to remeet requirements on one twenty-nine of twenty-six applicant number six on the lateral list Daniel Herrera was removed for failure to remote requirements on one thirteen to twenty-six and on our lateral list number seven Robert Hubner was removed for also failure to remeet requirements one twenty-seven and twenty-six on the fire side there is nothing so that would be uh that would conclude the secretary's report uh chief wanna speak on your on the promotion good afternoon commissioners uh for the record Bill ovens chief of police Joliet Police Department uh we're here today to ask for a promotion of police officer Ryan Smith to the rank of sergeant I've reviewed the work history of Sergeant Candidate Ryan Smith and found throughout his career he's received numerous awards including several unit merit division awards commendations letters of appreciation from citizens in addition he has no disciplinary record for the last five years as a result I find no cause to pre prevent him from performing his duties if promoted to the rank of sergeant very good I'll motion that uh promotion up second seconded by Commissioner Strocha roll call commissioner Strocha Commissioner Pont and Commissioner Stefanski aye it passes congratulations Sergeant Smith next up we have uh newer old business we have no new or old business uh any public comments we have no public comments seeing nobody and I think that's all we have today oh chief did you want to speak on changing the next uh the next date yes commissioners we would uh respectfully request that the following uh police and fire board meeting scheduled for the ninth would be uh suspended in lieu of a special meeting on the 16th okay what we'll do is yeah we'll like I like I explained I think we'll we'll check our dates um once we're done adjourned here and we'll uh we'll definitely get right back to you but uh great thank you I don't see a major problem there okay hearing any nothing else uh on the agenda um need a motion for adjournment motion second motioned by Commissioner Strocha and seconded by Commissioner Pontz all in favor aye any opposed meeting adjourned stressful yeah you guys okay so far

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Personnel Matters████████████████████31%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of Joliet, Illinois met on February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Due to the absence of Chairman Quinn Adamowski and Commissioner Natalie Coleman, a quorum was achieved with Commissioners John Stefanski, Tomas Ponce, and Pat Strocchia present. The board approved the minutes of the January 12, 2026 meeting, received the Secretary’s Report detailing numerous candidate removals and withdrawals, and unanimously approved the promotion of Master Patrol Officer Ryan Smith to the rank of Sergeant. No public comments were made. A brief discussion was held regarding rescheduling the next regular meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the Board of Fire & Police Meeting held on January 12, 2026 were approved by a motion from Commissioner Strocchia, seconded by Commissioner Ponce. The motion carried with a vote of 3-0 (Stefanski, Ponce, Strocchia in favor; Adamowski and Coleman absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during either the agenda item or general public comment periods.

Discussion Items

  • Secretary’s Report: Commissioner/Secretary John Stefanski read the report, listing 13 police department candidates and 4 lateral entry applicants who were either removed for failure to meet requirements or withdrew from consideration between January 12 and February 4, 2026. No fire department candidate actions were reported.
  • Promotion of Ryan Smith: Police Chief William Evans presented the recommendation to promote Master Patrol Officer Ryan Smith to Sergeant. Chief Evans stated he reviewed Smith’s work history and found no reason to prevent promotion, noting numerous awards, commendations, and letters of appreciation, as well as no disciplinary record in the last five years. Commissioners then moved to approve.
  • Next Meeting Date: Chief Evans requested that the regular meeting scheduled for March 9, 2026 be suspended in favor of a special meeting on March 16, 2026. Commissioners indicated they would check their schedules and report back, but no formal vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

  • Promotion Approved: The board voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the promotion of Ryan Smith from Master Patrol Officer to Sergeant.
  • Next Steps: The board will decide on the proposed date change by coordinating with Chief Evans.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Yeah, how's this? Tom, make sure your mic's up there. You're kind of short. All right, ready? And we're rolling. Okay. Spring to order. The uh City of Joliet, Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, uh monthly meeting. Monday, February 9th, 2026, 5 30 p.m. Start with a roll call. Um Commissioner Pontz here. Commissioner Strocha. And Commissioner Stefansky is present. We have a quorum. All right, let's move on to approval of minutes. Um need a uh motion to approve uh January 12th meeting minutes. Motion and a second. Very good. Motioned by Commissioner Strocha and seconded by Commissioner Pontz. Um in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Very good. Approval has passed. Uh citizens to be heard on agenda items. Any citizens out there? Just one. Very good. Uh none present. Uh none to be heard. Uh we'll move on to the Secretary's report. Um what do we have? From the police department. Uh applicant number sixty-seven. Enrique Almazon was removed from the list, failure to meet requirements. That was on 112 of 26. Applicant number 71, Angel Ortega Sant, removed from the list for failure to remeet requirements. That was on 114 of 2026. Lloyd Van Lysum was also removed. That was uh applicant number 73, removed for failure to meet requirements also on 18 of 26. Applicant 77, Angel Garcia was removed for failure to meet requirements also on 114 of 26. Applicant number 78, Ryan Davis withdrew on 114 of 2026. Jesus Cavillo removed failure to meet requirements also. Uh 116 of 26. Withdrew from the list on 121 of 26. Samuel Garcia, number 84, uh was removed for failure to remit requirements on 121 26. Applicant number 85, Tyler Robertson was removed for failure to remit requirements. On 127 and 26.

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