HORTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The fate of Hortonville’s police chief is now in the hands of the village’s police and fire commission.
Nine total hours of testimony over two days concluded Thursday night in Chief Michael Sullivan’s hearing on misconduct violations.
Taking a seat as a witness in his own case, Chief Sullivan reiterated his attorney’s belief that he was the subject of a witch hunt.
Sullivan said that became his belief after a conversation with Jim Macy, a private attorney the village hired for Sullivan’s case.
“He slid the paper forward, tapped his finger on it and said ‘chief, even if you are innocent of everything here, there is no way you can come back from this,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan is accused of harassment, discrimination, threatening officers if they file grievances, disclosing confidential information, and lying about the facts of this investigation.
On the first day of the hearing, several witnesses testified to Sullivan using foul language on the job.
Sullivan denied saying many of the things witnesses testified to. Sullivan also explained his side of certain allegations, and also admitted to others.
After the hearing, Sullivan spoke to WLUK and reiterated he has made mistakes.
“Nobody is perfect. There is only one person that’s perfect and we’ll celebrate his birthday this weekend.”
Sullivan has been on paid administrative leave since mid-October.
The police and fire commission is expected to decide whether Sullivan deserves any punishment in about a month.
