Officer's injury prompts village to alter ethics code
The Elm Grove Business Association and Uno Chicago Grill are spearheading a fundraiser for injured Elm Grove police officer John Krahn and West Allis resident Scott Partenfelder. It's an event aimed at defraying medical costs incurred by the two men, who risked their lives to try to pull Partenfelder's wife and child from the path of an oncoming train on Memorial Day.
Both men have been released from the hospital, but they face significant expenses and recovery time. The mom and child are uninjured.
At the time the fundraiser was set in motion, the village's code of ethics could have made it impossible for Krahn to accept the money raised without breaching an ethical barrier.
The code blanketly prohibited village employees, and their immediate family members, from accepting gifts that would not be offered to them if they were not a village employee.
Since Krahn likely would not be injured if he were not a village police officer, the fundraiser's proceeds seem to fall under that restriction.
"The ethics code is extremely narrow and focused on anything of value, period," Village Manager Dave De Angelis said.
The solution recommended by the Legislative Committee is fairly simple; all that is needed is an exemption for those who are injured in the line of duty or who have a life-threatening illness while holding public office.
The problem was one of wording, not intent, De Angelis said.
The code is meant to prevent village employees from accepting gifts that could compromise their ability to maintain impartiality regarding the gift-giver, not to stop the community from being able to help an employee who has served the village well.
The Village Board was set to vote on the new wording Tuesday, after NOW's deadline. Results of that vote are available at ElmGroveNOW.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: fundraiser for John Krahn and Scott Partenfelder
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday
WHERE: Uno Chicago Grill, 15280 W. Bluemound Road
DETAILS: Uno will donate up to 20 percent of the proceeds from dine-in or take-out orders to Krahn and Partenfelder to help offset their medical expenses. A certificate to present at the time of payment can be downloaded here.
CONTACT: Tina Maas at (262) 762-4202
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