WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Police and Fire Commission has their work cut out for them over the next six months as both of the city’s Fire and Police Chiefs will be leaving.
Both Ben Bliven and Bob Barteck announced plans to leave their posts. Bliven will resign as Police Chief in mid-September to take a job in the private sector and Barteck will retire on December 15th. Rosenberg says Bliven is resigning to begin a new career outside of policing and Barteck is retiring to spend more time with family.
Rosenberg says the process to fill both jobs is already underway and will include interviews with current employees for both departments, which they did the last time they had to fill the Fire Chief position. “We found it meaningful to hear directly from folks about what they are looking for, what do they need from us, what do they hope [that] we consider.”
The Commission did tap Deputy Chief Matt Barnes to take over the Police department after Bliven resigns, assuming they haven’t already found a new leader. Commissioners haven’t decided on an interim fire chief just yet. She adds that both searches will involve a national job posting as well. “Whoever we hire, we deserve to know that we selected the right person, overall,” said Rosenberg.
She does feel that both departments are well-positioned to develop internal leaders as well, so don’t be surprised if the next Fire or Police Chiefs are already on the city’s payroll. “The one thing I have seen over and over again in our police department is they have had leadership development embedded in everything that they do. There are plenty of folks that are ready to take on that challenge; I know we have some homegrown talent.
“I think we will have some really good opportunities to get the right person in that position,” added Rosenberg.
Multiple rounds of interviews will be conducted before a decision is made. Rosenberg says the Commission will release more information when appropriate as they work through the process of filling the positions.
Other topics Rosenberg discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video: Water update
5:10- Return of the Goats
9:50- Search for new Public Safety leaders
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