Former Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza. MWC file photo.
MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) — The Marshfield City Council has voted to bring employment-related charges against Police Chief Rick Gramza to the city’s Police and Fire Commission.
Tuesday evening the Council came out of a two-hour closed-session and delivered a 10-0 vote to authorize City Administrator Steve Barg to file the charges later today. Mayor Bob McManus says the nature of the criminal charges brought against him show he’s unfit to lead.
“The charges stem from a significant investigation involving improper work activity and sexual relationships that Administrator Barg believes undermines Chief Gramza’s to be an effective leader of the City of Marshfield’s Police Department,” read McManus in a prepared statement following the meeting.
“Barg is greatly saddened that it came to this, where he needed to file charges seeking Chief Gramza’s removal. Our law enforcement officers must work tirelessly to protect the honor of their profession,” added McManus.
The Mayor later told WDLB Radio in Marshfield that the closed session was- at times, tense, but ultimately results in a unanimous decision. “This is a big deal, and these were big decisions that were made. The council members had great questions, and there was tremendous dialog [along with] tremendous heartache.”
RELATED: Gramza Formally Charged With 4th-Degree Sexual Assault, Released on Bond
Gramza was formally charged with 4th-degree sexual assault and misconduct in office on December 23rd. He was released on a $10,000 signature bond under the condition that he have no contact with the alleged victim “except as it relates to official duties.” Conditions of the bond include that “incidental” interactions should be handled by the Assistant Chief.
He has been on leave from the department since November. In the meantime, he continues to receive salary and benefits totaling just over $146,000 including an annual base wage of $104,500, and a $1,200 car allowance.
McManus added that the charges are not an indictment on the department as a whole. “We have a tremendous Police Department and we stand by the men and women behind the badge. Although this is tough to go through, we should feel very lucky here in the City of Marshfield because we have a tremendous group of officers that take care of us on a daily basis.”
Gramza also took voluntary leave earlier this year when he was informed about the possibility of charges against him stemming from an incident in his past, but those charges never materialized and he returned to work a week later.
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