Police and Fire Commission Meeting
Regular MeetingWaupun, WI · February 25, 2025
Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF WAUPUN
Police & Fire Commission (PFC) Meeting
Waupun Safety Building – 16 E. Main Street, Waupun
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 4:30pm
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting convened at 4:32pm by PFC President.
ROLL CALL
Present: John Bett (PFC Vice President), Bambi Buchholz (PFC Citizen), WFD Chief BJ DeMaa, Bobbi Jo Kunz
(Council Member-Ex Officio), Tara Rhodes (PFC Citizen/Secretary), Mike Thurmer (PFC Citizen/President); WPD
Chief Jeremy Rasch
Member(s) absent (excused): Teresa Heidemann (PFC Citizen)
Guests: N/A
MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Minutes from the October 15, 2024 meeting were presented for approval. Motion to approve minutes as
submitted at 4:33pm by J. Bett, B. Buchholz second; all in favor, motion passed.
Minutes from the January 21, 2025 meeting were presented for approval. Motion to approve minutes as
submitted at 4:33pm by J. Bett, B. Buchholz second; all in favor, motion passed.
Minutes from the February 6, 2025 meeting were presented for approval. Motion to approve minutes as
submitted at 4:34pm by J. Bett, B. Buchholz second; all in favor, motion passed.
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THE
WAUPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT (WFD) AND WAUPUN POLICE DEPARTMENT (WPD)
WFD Update (Chief DeMaa)
Staffing:
Fire: 24 of 32 positions filled; EMR: 12 of 15 positions filled
Now hiring information has been added to our social media sites: 3 applications received so far (2 fire, 1
fire/EMR) and both Youth Apprentice (YA) students would like to move into POC roles as well
2 Lieutenant positions open; currently accepting job interest forms
4 students interested in YA positions for the next school year. Chief DeMaa and Assistant Chief Beer are
trying to determine how many we can handle (both from a scheduling standpoint as well as from a
budgeting standpoint)
Celebrated milestone anniversaries at the annual awards banquet:
10 years – Dan Holz, Craig Ruis, Jeremy Thurk
5 years – Joe Barnes, Tom O’Neill
2024 call totals:
City Fire – 180 calls (154 in 2023)
City EMR – 528 calls (600 in 2023)
Country Fire – 67 calls (68 in 2023)
General updates:
Abel Kooima is assisting with some of the social media posts (i.e. Training Tuesday)
The Recruitment/Retention Committee is formalizing a referral program, this program will provide
referral bonuses to current members if they refer a new member to the department
After 5 years of discussion, approval for the order of a new ladder truck was given by the Council; the
order has been placed with delivery being delayed until late 2028 or early 2029.
An Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) was submitted for the replacement of the current SCBAs and the
refill compressor. The current airpacks/bottles will age out beginning this year with the balance expiring in
2026.
4 EMRs able to attend the WI EMS Association (WEMSA) Conference up in Green Bay. WEMSA serves as a
great opportunity for members to accrue continuing education credits for their 3-year renewals.
The City and Townships continue to review budgets and discuss what a combined department would look
like. The Town of Waupun applied for an Innovation Planning Grant through the State of Wisconsin and
was awarded the grant. These funds will be used to bring in a facilitator to help move the discussions
forward.
Chief DeMaa and Assistant Chief Beer met with Keller Engineering to begin reviewing the current fire
department space and assessing current/future needs. This process involves looking at every area of the
existing fire department (apparatus bay, storage areas, meeting rooms, offices, and basement) to
evaluate if any changes need to be made and to set the building up for the next 40 years of its life (with
the exception of the epoxy floor and vehicle exhaust system the fire department side of the building is the
same as it was when the building opened 40 years ago). The State of Wisconsin is expected to announce
an Innovation Grant later this spring or early summer that could provide grants of up to $10 million which
could go towards building projects. This work is in preparation for that grant release. The Police
Department has also undergone this same process for their side of the building.
Annual flow testing was completed on all SCBAs.
Annual SCBA mask fit testing completed for staff.
Annual PPE inspections were completed by all members.
OSHA proposing overhaul of 1910.156 – Fire Brigade standard. The WFD, along with the WI State Fire
Chiefs Association, are watching this closely as it could have far-reaching financial impacts.
Participated in the Citizen’s Police Academy presentations over the past 2 weeks.
WPD Update (Chief Rasch)
Staffing:
Dean Hopp – tentative start date March 3rd, Swear In at 3pm
Krystal Konkel – start date March 6th, Swear In at 11am
Charles Hensen – Swear In March 14 at 11am, Academy starts April 1st
Offer on leave and officer expecting deployment in 2025.
2024 Department Awards
o Commendation Award - Lt Williams, Officer Schnell, Officer Knudson, and Records Clerk DeBoer
o Perfect Attendance – Lt Williams, Lt Kreitzman, Officer Warner, Officer Schnell
Department Pins
o Military Veteran Pin - Officer Cupery, Officer Roberts, and Officer Brice
o Investigator Pin – Lt Williams
o Field Training Officer – Officer Schnell
Training:
Department staff attended the Fond du Lac County Inservice and Dodge County Legal Update
Hosted Active Shooter Incident Management course at the community center in January; this is a
countywide initiative to have all first responders trained.
Lieutenant Navis organized an Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and provided training to
multiple patrol officers (16 hour course)
Officer Dumke completed Defensive Tactics Instructor course in January and is assigned as the
department’s Defensive Tactics Instructor
Officer Schnell will be scheduled to attend Instructor Development and wishes to further his career
development and become a state certified instructor
Officer Warner will be scheduled to attend Field Training and wishes to further his career development by
becoming a certified FTO
Officer Jaret Knudson was nominated for the Dodge County Drug Task Force and accepted for the position
of investigator within the Dodge County Drug Task Force; he will train with the task force staff in spring
Chief Rasch attended the DOJ’s New Chiefs/Sheriffs Training
Chief Rasch and Deputy Chief Sullivan attended the WI Chief Association Winter Conference
Lieutenant Brzezinski and Lieutenant Kreitzman attended Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive
Development Association (WLEEDA)
Officer Halverson attended Basic SWAT
Equipment:
Mobile Finger Print Scanner and Flock Cameras are in service
Detectachem Drug Identifier was purchased with training to be completed in March
Purchased 2 lighter weight AR15 rifles to assist with smaller stature officers and being on scenes for
extended periods of time
Transition from server-based system to the Safefleet Cloud Nexus went relatively smoothly
Had a Taser 10 temo towards the end of 2024 and a 90 day trial device was provided for staff to train with
Community Engagement (Jan/Feb):
Celebrate Waupun Board Meetings
Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission Board Meeting
Salvation Army Board Meeting
WBEV Community Comment
FAL Communications Review Board
Kiwanis Club Presentation
Senior Citizen Police Academy
Waupun Ice Fest
Dodge County Drug Task Force Awards Banquet
Library Board Meeting
Also:
Working with Keller Engineering reference future building needs
FUTURE MEETINGS AND GATHERING INVOLVING THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION
The next Commission meeting date is to-be-determined and would be held at the Waupun Safety Building. The
PFC meets quarterly, at minimum.
If necessary, please send any agenda requests to Chief DeMaa or Chief Rasch so appropriate preparation(s) can be
made.
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion at 5:32pm to adjourn meeting made by J. Bett, B. Buchholz second; all in favor, motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tara Rhodes, Secretary
Agenda
AGENDA
CITY OF WAUPUN
POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Waupun Safety Building-16 E. Main Street, Waupun
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
1. Approve Minutes from October 15, 2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting
2. Approve Minutes from January 21, 2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting
3. Approve Minutes from February 6, 2025 Special Police and Fire Commission Meeting
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THE
WAUPUN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WAUPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT
FUTURE MEETINGS AND GATHERING INVOLVING THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION
ADJOURNMENT
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
MINUTES
CITY OF WAUPUN
Police & Fire Commission (PFC) Meeting
Waupun Safety Building – 16 E. Main Street, Waupun
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 4:30pm
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting convened at 4:30pm by PFC President.
ROLL CALL
Present: John Bett (PFC Vice President), Teresa Heidemann (PFC Citizen), Bobbi Jo Kunz (Council Member-Ex
Officio), Tara Rhodes (PFC Citizen/Secretary, arrived 4:48p), Mike Thurmer (PFC Citizen/President), WPD Chief
Jeremy Rasch, WFD Chief BJ DeMaa
Member(s) absent (excused): Bambi Buchholz (PFC Citizen)
Guests: N/A
PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION / PUBLIC COMMENT
Pam Streekstra, address provided, addressed the Commission.
No Public Participation after this point.
MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Minutes from the July 17, 2024 meeting were presented for approval. Motion to approve minutes as submitted
by J. Bett, T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed.
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THE
WAUPUN POLICE DEPARTMENT (WPD) AND WAUPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT (WFD)
WFD/EMR Updates provided by Chief DeMaa:
Fire
Staffing/Recognition:
- Two recent hires enrolled in Firefighter I classes through MPTC; two Youth Apprentice firefighters
currently working at the department
- 150th Anniversary on October 7. Thank you to all who attended and to Waupun Historical Society for
collaboration.
- The WFD received the Larry Ceretto Fire Safety Education Award from the Professional Fire Fighters of WI
Charitable Foundation. This award recognizes a fire department whose commitment to fire safety has
attained a high level of quality and integrity that had been the characteristic of one of Wisconsin’s most
admired in the fire service, Larry Ceretto.
- Recruitment and Retention Committee has reached out to the school district to find more ways to
interact with students, met with the Beaver Dam Fire Department to understand their Cadet program and
hosted “The Modern Day Recruiter” class (30 attendees from 9 different departments attended).
Community Engagement:
- Fire Prevention Week theme “Smoke Alarms – Make Them Work For You” included 1100 student
participants and amazing support from the firefighters this year.
- Assisted Rec Department with their giant Slip-n-Slide at Juniper Hill and Water Sprinkler at their end of
year party.
Operations:
- City and Township Chairmen have met to see if there is still interest in moving forward with consolidation
discussions. There is still interest from all sides to understand how it would look.
- Received $4,900 donation from Flint Hills to be used for multiple purchases (firefighting foam, binoculars
& spotting scope, absorbent socks, iPad, battery operated chain saw).
- City is exploring vendors that could help identify what the future of the Public Safety building may need to
look like as service models change. This is prework that may be very important when details of the
Innovation Grant are released from the State.
- Very busy with fire inspections (occupancy, ownership changes, kitchen hood systems).
EMR
Staffing:
- Two candidates working through the hiring process; one resignation.
Community Engagement:
- Met with FDL County Health to talk about the placement of a Narcan box located in the City.
Operations:
- Will be conducting joint training with SSM Health – Waupun Memorial Hospital this month.
- Working with on formatting the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
WPD updates provided by Chief Rasch:
Staffing/Recognition:
- Our current staff level is 15 sworn personnel and 2 non-sworn personnel. We currently have 2 vacant
Patrol Officer positions. A hiring process is open for Patrol Officer vacancies.
- Officer Cupery and Officer Roberts completed Field Training.
- Officer Brice graduated from police recruit school and is currently in field training.
- Command staff is fully hired: Patrol Lieutenant Navis and Investigative Lieutenant Williams were sworn in.
- Officer Schnell has been selected to be a Field Training Officer and will attend training in late October.
- Currently have an investigator position budgeted for 2025 with plans to hire for this position upon
approval of the budget.
- Utilizing radio spots as recruitment tool and will be reaching out to technical schools to inquire about any
unsponsored students.
- The Lake Winnebago Area Meg Unit received the Drug Unit of the Year Award at the WI Narcotics
Officers’ Association Conference. Lieutenant Williams is an investigator with the unit.
- Nine officers assisted with the dignitary response and protection efforts in Ripon and Juneau. Officers
were assigned to each event; Secret Service acknowledged large size of support; Homeland Security also
present.
Community Engagement:
- Meetings: FDL County Communication Review Board, Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission, Waupun
Correctional Disturbance Response, Salvation Army of Dodge County, WASD School Safety, FDL County
Sexual Assault Response Team, Dodge County Drug Task Force Board, Lake Winnebago Area Meg Unit
Board
- Events: WBEV Community Comment Radio Shows, Wisconsin National Guard Blackhawk Event, Waupun
PD K9 Brat Fry Fundraiser, Waupun Business Alliance Coffee Connection Events, Police Lights of Christmas
Fundraiser at Culver’s (raised $2800 for families in need), Special Olympics Cops on a Rooftop Fundraiser
at Dunkin Donuts ($1600 raised), Senior Citizen Appreciation Day at the Senior Center, Little Steps, Big
Futures: Child Development Resource Expo – Meadowview Primary, 911 Silent Parade (Juneau),
Homecoming parade
Operations:
- Training: staff has attended and participated in numerous training events during quarter 3 and will
continue to train heavily through the winter months. We will continue to partner and train with other
agencies in the upcoming months. Numerous staff will attend Crime Scene Response/Investigative
training in Dodge County in late October. We are hosting an Active Shooter Incident Management course
in January 2025. Listed below is some of the training we participated in during the 3rd quarter.
o Firearms Trainings (Department wide, at new range), K9 Trainings (Officer Halverson), SWAT
Trainings (Officer Halverson), Active Shooter Training w/Dodge County SO (multiple officers), WI
FBINAA Training (Chief Rasch/Deputy Chief Sullivan), Active Threat Reunification Drill Dodge
County (Deputy Chief Sullivan), Emergency Vehicles Operation and Control Power Point and Track
(Department wide), National Incident Based Reporting System training (Danyelle DeBoer/Dawn
Greenfield), Tint Meter Operator Training (Officer Warner), Investigative Report Writing (Officer
Knudson), Internet Crimes Against Children Training (Lieutenant Williams)
o Conferences: WI Narcotics Officers’ Association Conference (Lieutenant Williams), CIB Conference
(Danyelle DeBoer)
o Jeremiah Winscher, Special Agent In Charge/Project Director Division of Criminal
Investigation/Lake Winnebago Area MEG – Drug Unit, recently spoke at a Common Council
meeting about the current drug trends in our region.
- Equipment: K9 bullet resistant vest was purchased through donations and the K9 Fund; department
looking at purchasing Flock Cameras through donations and Operations/Investigative budget.
Investigations:
o Drug Investigation Convictions - A 30-year-old Waupun woman was recently sentenced to prison
as a result of a drug investigation and search warrant conducted in May 2023. She was convicted
for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking House and 2 counts of Child Neglect. Additionally, a 47-year-old
Pardeeville man was convicted and sentenced to prison for Possession w/the Intent to Deliver
Methamphetamine, Felony Bail Jumping, and Resist/Obstruct an Officer.
o Complex Investigations: death, multiple drug, multiple sexual assault, multiple burglaries, multiple
child pornography and Internet crime Against Children cases; also assisting ATF with two Federal
cases, suspicious activities, invasion of privacy (extends to other municipalities), school threats,
and follow-up from ongoing homicide cases and a felony OWI incident. A stolen firearm was
located and turned over to FDL County Sheriff.
CLOSED SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission adjourned into closed session under Section 19.85 (1) (c) of the
WI Statutes to conduct an interview with a qualified applicant for employment for the open Patrol
Officer position.
(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee
over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
Motion to go into Closed Session at 5:29pm was made by J. Bett, T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed
(Chief DeMaa exited meeting at start of closed session).
OPEN SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission reconvened in open session under Section 19.85(2) of the WI Statutes at
6:06pm after motion from J. Bett, T. Rhodes second; all in favor, motion passed.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION
Motion at 6:07pm to extend conditional offer to candidate C. Hensen was made by T. Rhodes, J. Bett second; all in
favor, motion passed.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND GATHERING INVOLVING THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION
The next Commission meeting is to-be-determined. The PFC meets quarterly, at minimum.
If necessary, please send any agenda requests to Chief DeMaa or Chief Rasch so appropriate preparation(s) can be
made.
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion at 6:10pm to adjourn meeting made by T. Heidemann, T. Rhodes second; all in favor, motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tara Rhodes, Secretary
MINUTES
CITY OF WAUPUN
Police & Fire Commission (PFC) Meeting
Waupun Safety Building – 16 E. Main Street, Waupun
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 5:00pm
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting convened at 5:05pm by PFC President.
ROLL CALL
Present: John Bett (PFC Vice President), Teresa Heidemann (PFC Citizen), Bobbi Jo Kunz (Council Member-Ex
Officio), Tara Rhodes (PFC Citizen/Secretary), Mike Thurmer (PFC Citizen/President); WPD Chief Jeremy Rasch,
WPD Deputy Chief Ted Sullivan
Member(s) absent (excused): Bambi Buchholz (PFC Citizen)
Guests: N/A
CLOSED SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission adjourned into closed session under Section 19.85 (1) (c) of the
WI Statutes to conduct interviews with a qualified applicants for employment for open Detective
position.
(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee
over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
Motion to go into Closed Session at 5:06pm was made by T. Rhodes and J. Bett second; all in favor, motion
passed.
OPEN SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission reconvened in open session under Section 19.85(2) of the WI Statutes at
6:38pm after motion from J. Bett and T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION
Motion at 6:39pm to qualify both candidates for conditional offer with priority based on scores and resume (#1 K.
Konkel and #2 A. Tipton) was made by T. Rhodes and T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND GATHERING INVOLVING THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION
The next Commission meeting is to-be-determined. The PFC meets quarterly, at minimum.
If necessary, please send any agenda requests to Chief DeMaa or Chief Rasch so appropriate preparation(s) can be
made.
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion at 6:41pm to adjourn meeting made by J. Bett and T. Rhodes second; all in favor, motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tara Rhodes, Secretary
MINUTES
CITY OF WAUPUN
Police & Fire Commission (PFC) Meeting
Waupun Safety Building – 16 E. Main Street, Waupun
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 5:00pm
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting convened at 5:00pm by PFC President.
ROLL CALL
Present: John Bett (PFC Vice President), Teresa Heidemann (PFC Citizen), Bobbi Jo Kunz (Council Member-Ex
Officio), Tara Rhodes (PFC Citizen/Secretary), Mike Thurmer (PFC Citizen/President); WPD Chief Jeremy Rasch,
WPD Deputy Chief Ted Sullivan
Member(s) absent (excused): Bambi Buchholz (PFC Citizen)
Guests: N/A
CLOSED SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission adjourned into closed session under Section 19.85 (1) (c) of the
WI Statutes to conduct interviews with a qualified applicants for employment for open Patrol Officer
Vacancy.
(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee
over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
Motion to go into Closed Session at 5:01pm was made by J. Bett and T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion
passed.
OPEN SESSION
The Waupun Police and Fire Commission reconvened in open session under Section 19.85(2) of the WI Statutes at
5:47pm after motion from J. Bett and T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION
Motion at 5:48pm to make a conditional offer to candidate D. Hopp was made by J. Bett and T. Heidemann
second; all in favor, motion passed.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND GATHERING INVOLVING THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION
The next Commission meeting is Tuesday, February 25 at 4:30pm at the Waupun Safety Building. The PFC meets
quarterly, at minimum.
If necessary, please send any agenda requests to Chief DeMaa or Chief Rasch so appropriate preparation(s) can be
made.
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate disabled individuals through appropriate aids and
services. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 920-324-7915.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion at 5:51pm to adjourn meeting made by T. Rhodes and T. Heidemann second; all in favor, motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tara Rhodes, Secretary
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