Village attorney: Chief's use of village email not a violation of policy

Brown Deer - Police Chief Steven Rinzel is on Gmail now, but only after a resident complained about what appeared to be inappropriate use of his village email account.

After a resident noticed Rinzel was using his police department email in a recent advertisement in the Catholic Herald and questioned its use, Rinzel opened a Gmail account, but his use of the department email did not violate any village policies.

Rinzel, an active member of the Personnel Committee at St. Boniface Church in Germantown, posted an ad for a director of music and liturgy for the parish. He used his department email as part of the contact information.

Village Manager Russell Van Gompel said the village has an electronic communications policy governing the use of email and computers.

"They can use it personally if it does not interfere with their work," he said. "We also allow them to use to use it during breaks or after hours, and we do have some employees who stay after work to use it."

Village Attorney John Fuchs said police chiefs are considered to be on duty 24/7 and are not required to file a 1099 for the use of village vehicles, for instance. In his opinion, Rinzel did not violate any policy.

Rinzel said that until the question was raised about the advertisement, he had only the department email.

"It's been in place for a long time," he said. "I do Toys for Tots and other community involvement (using that)."

But, since the use of the email for an advertisement for his church was raised, Rinzel said he opened another account and changed the email address in the advertisement.

"I was connected 24/7 and now I am connected 24/7 in two ways," he said. "If it is something people get upset with, I am willing to change it."