The city of Beloit has reached a settlement with its top two police officials. Beloit City Council unanimously approved retirement deals for the two, who have been on paid administrative leave since June.
An external review accused Chief Norm Jacobs and Deputy Chief Tom Dunkin of leadership problems and mismanagement of the department. They were to face disciplinary hearings before the city’s police and fire commission next month.
Under the deal, they will receive severance pay and benefits and remain eligible for retirement benefits in exchange for never working for the city of Beloit again. The city also avoids the cost of further litigation. Both sides have a week to back out of the agreement.
Jacobs will receive payments of more than $108,000. Dunkin's total more than $96,000. Beloit officials can't comment until after the revocation period ends. The police and fire commission can officially begin its search for the next police chief at that point, too. David Zibolski is serving as interim police chief.
The Settlement
The settlement terms are similar for both Jacobs and Dunkin:
- Remain on paid leave until January 31st
- Six months severance pay
- Eligible for retiree health benefits
- Can cash out unused vacation and sick leave days
- Cannot seek employment by the City of Beloit in the future
The Charges
Both men faced the following charges:
- Failure to perform job duties in a competent manner
- Attempt to hire an unqualified candidate with a felony record
- Lack of responsiveness to citizen complaint
- Mismanagement of evidence and the property room
- Failure to ensure department compliance with strip search statute and to update and ensure compliance with strip search policy
- Failure to qualify with a firearm
- Release of gambling funds in violation of policy
- Lack of a personnel early warning system, despite advising CALEA that such a system is in place
- Failure to have a criminal intelligence sharing policy or practice as required by federal regulations
- Failure to properly maintain internal affairs files
Additional charges filed against Chief Jacobs:
- Violation of pregnancy discrimination act
- Counseling issued for sick leave usage in violation of Family Medical Leave Act laws
- Failure to document internal affairs complaint
- Utilization of untested and unsupported matrix in hiring process
WNIJ's Victor Yehling also contributed to this report.
