City council to discuss police chief waiver

GREEN BAY - We should learn more tonight about who might be Green Bay's next police chief.

Last month, the city's police and fire commission offered the job to interim chief Tom Molitor.

However, city ordinance requires all department heads to live in Green Bay. Molitor lives 20 miles outside of Green Bay, in Abrams.

Last month, Molitor told Green Bay's personnel committee he wasn't interested in moving from his Abrams home. The committee voted three to one against granting Molitor a waiver, so he could become chief and continue living outside the city.

The city council is expected to have the final say tonight.

Some council members have said rules are made to be followed.

Mayor Jim Schmitt didn't want to comment this afternoon, before tonight's meeting. But last month, he told us he is for the waiver.

“It's 20 minutes and with lights and siren he can be here in 10,” said Schmitt in an interview with FOX 11 on January 23. “He's here before everyone and stays late, so we need to make this exception.”

“I believe the top officials, that the top leadership of the city, should enthusiastically want to live in our community and be a part of our community,” said Alderman Tom Sladek.

Molitor came out of retirement last July to become Green Bay's interim chief. He has said his Abrams home is his retirement home and he doesn't want to sell it.

FOX 11’s Ben Krumholz will be at tonight’s council meeting and will have the latest on FOX 11 News at Nine.