WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Some new faces will join the Wausau police force in early 2019.
The city’s Police and Fire Commission held a closed-session meeting Tuesday morning to approve one internal promotion and three new hires to the force. According to Chief Ben Bliven, the new faces will help bring the staff to near full-force. “It goes a long way, it’s a long and arduous process. It took about five months before we could get all these folks hired,” he said.
Bliven says his staff had five vacancies along with two grant positions to fill earlier this year. The three individuals will begin an 18-week training course in early January and likely would not be approved to patrol on their own until June at the earliest.
Additionally, the commission approved a promotion for Officer Nate Stetzer to Detective. He will fill a void left by the promotion of Jill Kurtzall to Lieutenant following the retirement of Dwayne Dachel.
Bliven did not name the three individuals hired our of respect to their current employers but says all three exhibit the qualities that he is looking for in an officer. “We look for people that are just good people, that want to be engaged in their community.”
He says the department’s motto has long been hire for character, then teach them how to use the tools an officer needs to do their jobs like the weapons and the squad car. “It’s really critical that we find people that are respectful, kind, and compassionate. That want to help make our community a better place.”
“We will train you to do that job,” he added.
Bliven says his department is not done hiring yet, they plan on taking another round of applications to fill three more positions in early 2019. No police experience is needed, as long as you have at least 60 college credits to your name and have not been convicted of a felony.
