After nearly four hours of hearing testimony, the City of Janesville’s Alcohol License Advisory Committee votes to recommend the city council should suspend the liquor license issued to The Back Bar.
Janesville Police Chief David Moore sent a letter to the city outlining a November 23rd shots-fired incident on Kellogg Avenue near the south side bar following a private party at the establishment.
The police department and its attorney argued the owners of The Back Bar failed to properly screen the host of the party, who had multiple criminal convictions on his record.
Bob Kerman and his attorney said they required the party host to hire five additional security guards, but after the shots were fired off of the property, multiple individuals on the property produced handguns without the bar’s knowledge.
The police also showed the committee body camera and security footage showing patrons taking beverages from the bar into the parking lot and street, which Kerman said was likely a result of the commotion caused by the gunshots.
He admitted he probably shouldn’t have hosted the private party for the individual involved, but he felt he took many of the necessary steps to protect his business and his customers.
The ALAC decided some form of suspension was necessary to send the right message to the bar and the community.
The Janesville City Council will have the final say over The Back Bar’s liquor license at a future meeting.
