Frank Wierzbanowski
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — Documents obtained by WAOW TV through a Freedom of Information Act request have shown some details regarding the sudden retirement of Officer Frank Wierzbanowski, the popular School Resource Officer at D.C. Everest Senior High School who was put on leave amid an investigation last fall.
Those documents show the investigation into Wierzbanowski – often referred to by students as ‘Officer Frank’ – began on October 10, when a member of the D.C. Everest school district filed a complaint alleging that the school’s zero-tolerance policy was being violated and that he was lying to the person filing the complaint.
The complainant continued by claiming students had been seen vaping and/or drinking at a recent school football game on Oct. 7, and the individual did not trust Wierzbanowski to enforce school policies and be truthful about the enforcement of the violations.
The complainant said Wierzbanowski had not issued citations for first-offense violations, instead leaving it up to his discretion. When asked, Wierzbanowski claimed he ‘took care of it.’
When confronted, Wierzbanowski said that the individual “(was) stuck with me for eight years.”
During an internal investigation with the Everest Metro Police Department, conducted by Captain Nicholas Aldrich, Wierzbanowski was asked about why he had not consistently issued citations against students. He replied:
“Wierzbanowski said he felt with 16 years of experience, he had no opportunity to have input regarding the discussion (no tolerance disciplinary process.) He was trying to balance what was in the best interest of students and their families while being fair and consistent in his manners and operating in both houses (school district and police department). He said “I believe I still had discretion to which I think I was in a bad place to use that, but yet taking ownership of the way I handled it. I will take that but with good purpose and good intentions.”
Further, Weirzbanowski told Cpt. Aldrich, “Every situation is different and to have a zero tolerance, there have been studies on that, is not effective.”
Weirzbanowski admitted to being deceitful to the complainant, saying in the documents: “I will take ownership, and I will put this on record right now. Yeah, I was deceitful, but I was maneuvering the system to which I still thought was best for students, families, the community, Everest Metro Police Department, and the district.”
When asked why he did so, Wierzbanowski responded: “It was done for ‘the best interest of the students.'”
On November 17, Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon sent a letter to Everest Metro Police Chief Clay Schulz, in which she said her office would no longer use Officer Wierzbanowski’s investigative reports for any criminal charges or search warrants from that point forward.
“Officer Frank” was initially placed on leave by the EMPD as they opened an investigation into him. It was later announced that he would retire, and the investigation would halt. Officer Josh English has since taken over as the SRO for the Senior High.
Comments