Officials Speak Highly of Waukesha Police Department During Accreditation Hearing
Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group reviewing department to see if it meets 238 standards.
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Government officials who work on a regular basis with the Waukesha Police Department gave the department, its command staff and its officers a glowing recommendation during a public comment hearing as the department works toward accreditation.
Assessors from Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group are in Waukesha this week to review the police department as it looks to meet 238 standards in order to be accredited.
"Accreditation is important because it provides affirmation that the Waukesha Police Department is professional, maintains high standards and is proficient in all areas of law enforcement," a news release from Police Chief Russell Jack states.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Howard said the Waukesha Fire Department works well with the police department and that he sees officers and command staff who work as a team, are committed and dedicated, and are open to changes.
“We definitely share a great working relationship with the police department that frankly is not shared with our counterparts throughout the state,” Howard said. “… I can’t say enough positive things or express how luck we are and how fortunate we are to work with them.”
Only one community member spoke during the hearing, Jim Bouman, a local blogger. Bouman took issue with a taser incident, which he recalled from his memory a story that he said he read years ago in the local newspaper.
“I think it goes to the standards, the stance, the approach, toward the traditional role of the police,” said Bouman, being critical of the police department’s role in the taser incident.
Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel defended the police department, and said it was professional and effective in the community, making a “big difference” in keeping gangs out of the county.
Schimel told the assessors he disagreed “wholeheartedly” with Bouman’s comments.
“I’m impressed. They do a great job,” Schimel said. “I believe the citizens of this community are well served by this organization.”
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Waukesha Police Department
1901 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI -
City of Waukesha Fire Department
130 W Saint Paul Ave, Waukesha, WI
Michael A. Crowley
9:04 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Our City of Waukesha Police Department is a first class operation! Very community oriented and in touch with our businesses, our residents, our schools and our youth. I have had the privilege to participate and graduate from the awesome City of Waukesha Citizens Police Academy and have worked several ride-alongs. There is a tremendous amount of respect for our officers and the department. I have always witnessed the conduct of the officers to be professional, compassionate and friendly. Their commitment and dedication to our community and the risks they are faced with each day, make them an amazing team. We should all be proud of the great department we have from the officers, to the administrative staff, to the remarkable dispatch crew. I would consider the City of Waukesha Police Department to be among the best in the State of Wisconsin.
Michael A. Crowley
Waukesha, WI
Gregg Wandsneider
9:13 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
I respect the police force because they sacrificially serve our community on a day in day out basis. It is always nice when I hear an officer come in to a local business and supporting it. I have also known of more friends who have been pulled over in Waukesha for revoked license, not having insurance up to date, etc. My friends comment that they notice significantly more cops in Waukesha than any other city.
I am not a fan of the Waukesha police dispatch center being merged with the county as mentionned by another news source yesterday. This is ridiculous considering we already have a state-of-the-art dispatch center in Waukesha. Our already trained dispatchers know the city well. Switching the dispatch center to Waukesha County would potentially mean slower response times as calls may not get dispatched as quickly. What happens in Waukesha should stay in Waukesha.
Randy Radish
11:27 am on Thursday, January 20, 2011
As a former Alderman for the city and as one of the few members of the common council that rode with the police on many occasions, I have nothing but respect for the department. The men and women who keep us save do an outstanding job. During the many hours I spent in squad cars with these folks I was always impressed with the professionalism they showed. We are fortunate to have a highly trained , educated and dedicated staff at the police department. We have had good leadership at the department that in past years that have brought community policing to our city. Our new leadership will continue to bring us new ideas and continued quailty leadership.