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Page 4 Traffic Safety We promote safe roadways for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Crime Reduction Our citizens deserve a community in which they feel safe. Partnerships We are more eective when we work collaboratively. Excellence in Performance We promote excellence as the only acceptable standard of performance. Quality of Life Our actions will be guided by the preservation of the well-being of the department and our community. ABOUT US The Neenah Police Department is a proactive agency charged with the responsibility of serving and protecting the City of Neenah citizens from criminal activity. In addition to apprehending violators of the law, we see ourselves as community facilitators and problem solvers as we work with our citizens to prevent illegal and anti-social behavior. Typical activities involve: criminal investigations, answering complaints and serving as advisors in a myriad of areas related to prevention. We regularly interact with the community through our community policing initiatives, school resource oicer initiatives and a number of community policing eorts. Members of the Neenah Police Department serve on community boards, youth panels, service clubs, steering groups and more! Goals and Objectives
Page 5 The meaning behind the Oath of Honor -our word is given as a guarantee. -breaking faith with the public trust. - the symbol of our oice. -being the same person in private and public life. -qualities that distinguish an individual. -trust is a charge of duty imposed in faith toward those we serve. -having the strength to withstand un-ethical pressure, fear or danger. -we are answerable and responsible to our oath of oice. -the jurisdiction and citizens we serve. ABOUT US CONTINUED... On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution, and will remain loyal to my community and the agency I serve.
Page 6 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Page 7 POLICE COMMISSION The City of Neenah is one of approximately 150 Wisconsin communities required by state statute to have a Police Commission. The Neenah Police Commission is comprised of ve volunteer commissioners who are appointed to a ve-year term by the Mayor. The Mayor maintains operational oversight of the Police Department, while the Police Commission independently provides direct oversight of the hiring process. Specic duties are as follows: • Hires the Chief of Police • Conducts new hire interviews and creates a candidate eligibility list for the Chief of Police to ll vacant positions • Approves promotions and appointments made by the Chief of Police with the rank of Lieutenant and above • Establishes a hearing when formal charges are led against the Chief of Police or any sworn police oicer and will issue a determination • Hears disciplinary appeals led by a police oicer for action initiated by the Chief of Police 2023 Neenah Police Commission Activities • Held seven public meetings • Approved the promotions of Sergeant Sam Santiago and Investigative Sergeant Jeremy Bauman to Patrol Lieutenants • Hired six oicers: Trevor Jensen, Travis Koponen, Ben Kosiorek, Bryce Moeller, Jennifer Priessnitz, and Brent Wittman
Page 8 CHIEF’S MESSAGE - AARON L. OLSON On behalf of the Neenah Police Department employees who serve our community, it is my privilege to submit the Neenah Police Department 2023 Annual Report. The Neenah Police Department has a tradition of delivering high quality police services to our city’s residents, guests and businesses. In 2023 and beyond, we are building on that platform with the intent of striving for excellence. 2023 was a special year for the Neenah Police Department, as we celebrated 150 years as an incorporated community. One of the exciting events that we did as a city, which was spear-headed by the police department, was a 150th Anniversary Treasure Hunt. The treasure hunt included a commemorative medallion that was hidden throughout the city each week. Other exciting initiatives that the Neenah Police Department embarked on, was the ground-breaking of a new Neenah Police Department Training Center, the implementation of a new Behavioral Health Oicer and the inception of a new Wellness Program. These initiatives will be further outlined in this report. Our guiding motto at the police department is, “Dignity and Respect.” It is our goal to treat each person with dignity and respect on every call and contact we have. In addition to serving our community with dignity and respect, our members demonstrated servant leadership during their time at work, as well as their time outside of work. They serve on local boards, coach youth sports programs, train our citizens on many topics and in several capacities, serve as adjunct instructors, and above all, serve the citizens of Neenah. As your Police Chief, I am extremely proud of our employees, who dedicate their lives to being the best law enforcement professionals they can be. I hope you nd this report to be useful and informative. My door is always open (metaphorically) and I am happy to listen to any questions, comments or concerns you might have.
Page 9 Nee
Page 10 Je Bernice serves as the Assistant Chief for the Neenah Police Department. He oversees patrol operations, investigative services, personnel and scal management. Je started his law enforcement career in 1998 with the City of Fort Myers Police Department in Florida, where he served for 21 years. In March of 2019, he was hired as the Support Services Captain with the Neenah Police Department and was promoted to Assistant Chief in November of that year. In his years of law enforcement service, Je has been a member of Patrol, Bike Unit, Community Policing, Honor Guard, Narcotics, SWAT and Support Services. Je has also been a police instructor in various disciplines, involved in several special groups and committees and is a veteran of the United States Army. The Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary Treasure Hunt was a major accomplishment in 2023. This year-long community initiative yielded many positive results for the city and the department: from bridging the community and the department, to allowing people to learn the rich history of our city, to creating a tness/exploration platform for participants. Je couldn’t be prouder of the people who serve this amazing agency. Each day, the sworn oicers and professional sta go above and beyond in their service to the citizens of the City of Neenah. They stand between peace and peril to keep our community safe. They are the warriors against evil, the defenders of life, the protectors of rights and the friends of the people. They are the Neenah Guardians! ASSISTANT CHIEF JEFF BERNICE
Page 11 Tom Van Sambeek has served as the Professional Sta Captain since 2020. Tom manages the administrative functions of the Neenah Police Department. He is responsible for administrative management, professional sta management, internal investigation coordination, department training and technology upgrades. Before being promoted to Captain, Tom was a Patrol Lieutenant for 15 years. He has been with the Neenah Police Department since 1999 and even served as a Community Service Aide for the Neenah and Menasha Police Departments. Tom worked on several projects in 2023. One of these projects was expanding the number of Flock license plate reading cameras from six to 12. These cameras continue to be a valuable tool in locating stolen vehicles, wanted persons and providing leads in numerous other cases. Tom has also worked on securing a virtual reality simulator through a state grant. The simulator, from Apex Oicer, has the ability to immerse up to two oicers in many dierent environments, with an almost limitless number of factors, such as: number of subjects, weather, time of day, location and demeanor of subjects. A trainer leads the oicer through the scenario by participating as the dispatcher, trainer and subjects within the scenario. At the conclusion of the scenario, the trainer can play back a recording of the scenario for a detailed debrieng of the oicer's actions. Apex Oicer provides regular updates and improvements that enhance the training experience and increases the training library. In addition to working closely on the training center addition, Tom also oversaw many upgrades to our existing building, updated policies and assisted on multiple committees. PROFESSIONAL STAFF CAPTAIN TOM VAN SAMBEEK
Page 12 Jason Goetz has been the Professional Standards Lieutenant since the fall of 2023. Prior to this role, he was a Patrol Lieutenant. He has been with the Neenah Police Department for over 15 years. Jason oversees training, which continues to be a priority for the Neenah Police Department. Oicers are statutorily required to receive 24 hours per year, per oicer. In 2023, Neenah oicers received, on average, 81.3 hours of training per oicer. This average, just like in 2022, is over three times the state mandated amount of training required and does not include the three oicers who completed the 720-hour Law Enforcement Recruit Academy. It also does not include any oicers who resigned or retired during 2023. Some notable training developments for the Neenah Police Department in 2023, included Investigator Stephanie Gruss and Oicer Kellen McCarthy completing the 40-hour “Introduction to Crisis/Hostage Negotiations” course. This training is designed to better equip oicers to handle crisis situations by utilizing proven communication techniques in attempts to get voluntary compliance from individuals in crisis. School Resource Oicer Erica Geschrei and Patrol Oicer Adrian Todd also successfully passed the 80-hour Evidence Technician School. This course covers best practices in evidence collection and scene processing. Erica and Adrian had to process staged crime scenes. They then had to testify in a mock trial, where the instructors acted as defense attorneys, where they cross-examined them about the evidence they collected and the processes they used. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS LIEUTENANT JASON GOETZ
Page 13 Oicer Joe completed his second year as Community Policing Coordinator at the end of 2023. Oicer Joe enjoyed being on the 150th Anniversary Treasure Hunt Team and assisting with the development and deployment of the medallions throughout the year! For more details on this, please see the pages on the Neenah Police Department 150th Anniversary in this report. Oicer Joe is often asked, "What does a Community Policing Coordinator do?" His response is building trust and positive relationships between the police department and the community. He also does the following: • Regularly visits City of Neenah parks, splashpads and the Neenah Pool • Participates in community events, talks with kids and adults and answers questions • Monitors calls for service, identies trends and attempts to solve ongoing problems • Presents on community safety and other educational topics • Visits preschools and gives police squad tours • Gives civic group talks and tours for Boy/Girl Scouts, homeschool groups, etc. • Trains on fraud and scam prevention and active threat/shooter response • Creates social media educational posts and videos • Develops partnerships with local media and serves as police/media liaison • Completes Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) specialist • Supervises and schedules Crossing Guards at 15 locations • Works patrol oicer shifts, as needed You may have also seen Oicer Joe out on one of the Neenah Police Department’s bikes as he is an active member of the Bike Patrol Unit. You may have also seen him on social media explaining a traic law or City Ordinance. Remember, you can always say “Hi” and ask questions any time you see him at a community event or around the city! COMMUNITY POLICING COORDINATOR OFFICER JOE BENOIT
Page 14 COMMUNITY POLICING CONTINUED...
Page 15 The Neenah Police Department recently implemented a new Behavioral Health Oicer (BHO) position. Oicer Josh Peterson, who has been with the department since 2008, became the rst BHO in September of 2023. Josh is responsible for responding to behavioral health-related calls, as well as supporting individuals with mental health issues and people who are working through a crisis. While Josh is assigned to the patrol division, his primary focus is behavioral health-related calls. Josh collaborates with Winnebago County Human Services and other outside agencies to develop a support plan for the specic needs of individuals and their families. One of the main goals for this position is to reduce calls for police services related to mental health crises. Josh also helps to bridge the gap for individuals between short-term acute care and long-term care. Traditionally, a patrol response includes an oicer who must go from call-to-call, while other calls are also pending. This does not leave much time for individual attention and care to specic behavioral health issues. With this new position, Josh can invest more time with individuals to provide support through diicult times, as well as, build a positive working relationship with them and be an advocate for them. Mental health is health, and the Neenah Police Department is grateful for the opportunity to provide this service to the community. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OFFICER JOSH PETERSON
Page 16 In 2023, Tony was able to conduct 1,166 traic stops. The enforcement action from those stops led to 130 citations, 1,273 written warnings, eight warrant arrests, four felony arrests, one misdemeanor, 16 ordinances and 13 other issues. The most common reason for the traic stops was speeding, as there were 841 contacts for speed related issues. TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICER TONY EDWARDS Traffic Stops Citations Warnings Warrants Felony Misdemeanor Ordinance Other JANUARY 131 17 143 1 0 0 0 8 FEBRUARY 84 10 85 0 0 0 0 4 MARCH 113 22 134 5 1 2 1 0 APRIL 117 7 120 0 0 0 2 0 MAY 79 7 81 0 0 0 0 0 JUNE 89 10 101 0 0 0 0 0 JULY 120 14 139 0 1 0 5 0 AUGUST 101 15 121 1 1 0 5 0 SEPTEMBER 125 12 131 1 1 1 1 1 OCTOBER 108 9 118 0 0 0 1 0 NOVEMBER 74 2 77 0 0 0 1 0 DECEMBER 25 5 23 0 0 0 0 0 1166 130 1273 8 4 3 16 13
Page 17 Code Enforcement addresses many property maintenance and quality of life issues including: • Junk and debris • Maintenance of dwelling issues including broken windows/doors, missing siding, roofs in need of repair, etc. • Junked, unlicensed and improperly parked vehicles trailers • Seasonal complaints, including long grass/weeds and snow removal violations • Specic sign violations • Assisting with Public Works complaints, including items on the curb (brush, large items, yard waste, etc.) Cases are created either by citizen complaints, complaints from other oicials, or initiated by Michaela. Having a dedicated person in this role has allowed the City to be proactive in addressing complaints before they become bigger issues. Michaela aims to work with residents and property owners whenever possible. In 2023, 81% of cases were closed without any monetary penalties. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MICHAELA BEDORA New Cases Total Inspections Cases Closed Municipal Citations Issued Long Form Citations Issued
Page 18 INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES UNIT (ISU) The Neenah Police Department’s Investigative Services Unit (ISU) consists of one Investigative Lieutenant, one Investigative Sergeant, four Investigators, one Crime Analyst and one Investigator assigned to the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group Drug Unit (not pictured). Two School Resource Oicers are also assigned to ISU and assist with investigations when school is not in session. The Evidence Custodian falls under the supervision of the ISU Lieutenant, as well. Types of cases investigated in 2023: • Animal Cruelty • Burglaries • Catalytic Converter Thefts • Child abuse • Drug Overdose Deaths • Fraud/Forgery • Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) • Sex Oenses • Shootings • Stalking • Suspicious Deaths
Page 19 Amanda Moe has been the Evidence Custodian at the Neenah Police Department for the past four years. While Amanda has been an Evidence Technician for the department for over 18 years, she also has prior experience and training as a Patrol Oicer. Amanda is a certied property and evidence specialist through the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE). She is also a member of the Wisconsin Association for Identication (W.A.I.) Amanda assists patrol oicers and investigators with evidence processing and collection at crime scenes. Other duties include, but are not limited to: • Preserving/maintaining evidence and chain of custody • Sending items to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab/Hygiene lab for testing • Disposing or returning items of evidence according to State Statutes • Training new oicers in the procedures/equipment for crime scene processing and evidence collection • Providing courtroom testimony for court cases • Coordinating the annual bike auction with Youth Go In 2023, approximately 967 items of evidence were collected. Amanda routinely checks the status of previous cases to see if evidence could be disposed or returned. The Neenah Police Department has approximately 5,100 items in evidence and 1,000 items of evidence have been destroyed or returned in 2023. Some notable cases of evidence collection that resulted in arrests in 2023 were: • Gas station robbery • Theft/burglary case in conjunction with the Menasha Police Department • Attempted homicide/shooting • Juvenile reckless endangerment with a weapon • Home invasion/robbery • Jewelry store burglary • Signicant child abuse • Attempted homicide/stabbing case Amanda also maintains the prescription drug box located in the Neenah Police Department lobby for the public to safely dispose of unused medications. Amanda facilitates the collection, sorting and destruction of the medications. In 2023, the Neenah Police Department collected over 828 pounds of prescription medication. Amanda also disposed of 139 illegal drug cases. Amanda also fullls media requests for criminal cases sent to the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Oice, as well as other law enforcement/government agencies. In 2023, there were approximately 500 media requests. EVIDENCE CUSTODIAN AMANDA MOE
Page 20 PROFESSIONAL STAFF - COMMUNICATION TECHNICIANS The Neenah Police Department front desk is staed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, by three full time Communication Technicians (Comm Tech): Haley Beyer, Jane Eastman and Theresa Reckner. What our Communication Technicians do: • Answer incoming telephone calls and assist citizens in the lobby • Enter, conrm and remove data using the State of Wisconsin’s Transaction Information for the Management of Enforcement (TIME) System • Monitor and respond to communications via the TIME System • Assist with record retention processes • Query and enter data for oicers in various databases • Query and enter data on supplemental parking citation information In 2023, the Communication Technicians: • Received 19,471 incoming phone calls (an average of 2,044 calls each month) • Entered 230 municipal warrants • Veried/entered vehicle owner data for 1,506 parking citations • In conjunction with Winnebago County Dispatch, entered 25,596 calls for service
Page 21 PROFESSIONAL STAFF - RECORDS The Records Department is comprised of four full time Records Clerks: Amber Boehlen, Laurie Krueger, Lindsay Pointer and Shannon Van Lankvelt. Records is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. The Records Clerks process incident reports, oicer narratives, citations and accident reports. This includes proofreading these documents for spelling and grammar and scanning documents into the database for preservation. They also ensure reports pass the Uniform Crime Report compliance checks, and forward incident reports to appropriate parties, such as the District Attorney's Oice, Municipal Court, Department of Transportation, Juvenile Intake and any other governmental entity that requests these documents. Specically, the Open Recors Clerk fullls open records requests. This involves locating and reviewing the requested documents and determining if it is eligible to be released. If eligible, the necessary redactions are made to the document, or video, to prepare it for release. If ineligible, a letter is written stating why it is not eligible for public consumption. Finally, Records Clerks help with an assortment of other activities at the department. They assist Communications Technicians with answering phones and helping with lobby traic. They help to ensure records retention procedures are followed, represent the Neenah Police Department in Municipal Court, and properly report required statistical data to the Wisconsin Department of Justice via the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. In 2023, records sta processed: • 2,420 Initial Case Reports • 1,765 Follow-Up Case Reports • 4,185 Total Case Reports • 5,574 Oicer Narratives • 2,260 Answered Phone Calls • 1,747 Open Records Requests • Over 448 hours spent on preparing media to be released
Page 22 Jamie Voster has been with the Neenah Police Department as the Administrative Assistant since 2022. She is responsible for payroll and vendor management, as well as organizing and stocking supplies. She manages the department’s rosters, making changes, as necessary. She also does special projects for the department, when needed, such as implementing real time interpretation services, all while working part time. PROFESSIONAL STAFF - OFFICE Beth Oosterhous has been the Executive Assistant for the Neenah Police Department since 2022. She is Chief Olson’s assistant, but also supports the rest of the agency as her role is multi-faceted. She is a part of the hiring process, helps with the budget and other nancials, approves payroll, maintains social media, creates many marketing and recruitment publications and much more. Brandia Kutchek has been with the Neenah Police Department for 15 years. She was promoted to Support Services Supervisor in 2017. Brandia supervises the Records Department, Communication Technicians and Parking Program. While overseeing these departments, Brandia serves as the agency’s TIME System Coordinator, oversees record retention, coordinates training for sta and approves time.
Page 23 Adam Streubel has been the Fleet Manager for three years. Adam previously was employed at the Neenah Police Department as an Investigator and Patrol Oicer for 25 years. By having an onsite, part time Fleet Manager, squad cars can be serviced faster and on a more frequent basis. This ensures repairs are done quickly and the eet is well maintained. The Neenah Police Department eet consists of marked and un-marked squad cards for Patrol, Investigations and Administrative duties. It also includes two K9 squads, a Parking Enforcement vehicle, a Community Service Aide vehicle, a Code Enforcement vehicle, a Traic Safety Oicer squad, a Caiman Rescue vehicle, a Community Policing squad and a Crime Scene Response vehicle. In 2023, 220 requests for service were submitted by sta members who use the vehicles. The diagram below shows how the requests for service were fullled. FLEET - ADAM STREUBEL
Page 24 The Neenah Police Department is budgeted to have eight Community Service Aides (CSA) on sta. The CSA program is a great way for future oicers to experience the law enforcement world by learning how to communicate with people, solve problems, write reports and learn procedures and methods. CSA candidates must be enrolled in a post-secondary school, preferably studying law enforcement. They work 15-20 hours a week, either in the CSA role, or as parking enforcement. The CSA's handle a multitude of calls that assist the department and the citizens of Neenah. These calls include animal complaints (barking dogs, animal bites, stray animals, animal welfare checks, ducks trapped in the sewer, etc.), traic direction for crashes and parades, minor theft or damage complaints, parking complaints, vehicle lockouts and various administrative tasks. The CSA's drive a Chevrolet pickup truck that has all the equipment necessary to carry out their daily duties, including equipment to safely capture and contain stray animals. The CSA's are also responsible for patrolling and enforcing the downtown time-limit and permit-only parking areas. When assigned to parking, the CSAs drive a hybrid vehicle that is specially equipped with plate reading cameras and a computerized parking citation program. This equipment allows for a more eicient enforcement method. COMMUNITY SERVICE AIDES
Page 25 The Neenah Police Department crossing guard program is essential to the safety of the kids in the City of Neenah during their daily walk or bike ride to and from school. This dedicated team is out every school morning and afternoon in all weather conditions with smiles on their faces! Due to the restructuring of the Neenah Joint School District for the 2023-24 school year, there were changes to student routes. There are 15 crossing guard locations with one guard present each and seven alternates ready to ll shifts, as necessary. With the closing of Roosevelt School and all of 5th grade moving to the Neenah Middle School, crossing guard locations on and near Doty Island were moved to Tullar Road and Breezewood Lane. Locations continue to be evaluated and adjustments will be made, as necessary, to ensure student safety. CROSSING GUARDS
Page 26 Golden Doodle Acres donated Badges in 2018, and he continues to be a very important part of our blue family. He spends his days at the police department, providing companionship and stress relief to the sta and bringing smiles to all who meet him. Badges loves his new chicken toy and makes everyone laugh when he cuddles with it in the middle of the Records area. His o time is spent with his handler, Open Records Clerk Laurie Krueger, and her family. This year, Badges gave presentations to the Pals 4 Paws Club with the Neenah Joint School District. He had fun getting to meet students and loved spending time with them. Badges also has his own trading card! The Station Dog Program continues to be funded by the Great Lakes Veterinary Clinic, employee donations and gifts from the community. STATION DOG BADGES
Page 27 K-9 UNIT - - The Neenah Police Department continued with two working K-9 teams. K-9 Bobby and Oicer Mulroy transitioned from a dual purpose to a single purpose K-9 team in 2023, concentrating on narcotics detection and article searches. This was due to a growth that had to be removed, along with a toe from one of K-9 Bobby’s paws. The loss of the toe would put too much stress on the rest of the paw and could result in injuries in the future if K-9 Bobby were to continue with patrol work. K-9 Cam and Sergeant Santiago continued working night shift in 2023. Sergeant Santiago also received a promotion to Patrol Lieutenant in 2023. While this change takes eect in January of 2024, this team will continue working on night shift. In 2023, our K-9 teams took part in 53 training events for a total of over 370 training hours. They took part in over 100 detection exercises and over 90 patrol exercises. Our K-9s took part in 21 deployments. • 17 narcotics detection deployments resulted in 15 alerts and 13 seizures. There were two deployments that did not result in an alert from the K-9 • There were four patrol deployments in which three were subject tracks and one building search
Page 28 The Patrol Division consists of four lieutenants, four sergeants, and 20 oicers who provide professional police coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The lieutenants serve as shift supervisors and manage all police operations during their shifts. Due to the hard work of these individuals, the Neenah Police Department responded to 24,114 service calls in 2023. Chief Olson calls our Patrol Division “The Back Bone of our agency.” PATROL DIVISION
Page 29 PATROL DIVISION - DAY SHIFT
Page 30 PATROL DIVISION - NIGHT SHIFT
Page 31 The Neenah Police Department's Bike Patrol Unit has a wide variety of members from patrol oicers and specialty position oicers to investigators and administrators. Bike Patrol members operate standard-type mountain bikes and electric bikes (e-bikes). All bikes are set up for patrol work so that oicers can operate from them or travel with them on their patrol cars and deploy from anywhere in the city. Bike Patrol members use the bikes for regular patrol, special events, public engagement and directed patrols where squad cars are ineective. In 2023, Bike Patrol was utilized in three separate direct deployments for vehicle break ins and damage to property issues in the downtown area and area neighborhoods. The unit was able to stop and identify two suspects in numerous downtown damage complaints and apprehend another known suspect with warrants. These contacts would not have been possible without the use of the bike equipment. 2023 also brought back the Bike Rodeo. It was set up in conjunction with the National Night Out event at Memorial Park. Over 500 bike helmets were handed out to children that attended. Finally, the Neenah Police Department received a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Neenah for the purchase of two new fully equipped e-bikes! That donation brought the bike eet up to four e-bikes, which helps to create a more eicient bike patrol. BIKE PATROL
Page 32 DRONE The Neenah Police Department’s Drone Program is an integral part of the agency as the need for drones is increasing. Drone pilots train throughout the year to prepare for any situation that may arise in the City. Drones are helpful during critical incidents, locating missing people and gathering intelligence on everyday calls. Drones continue to be used to help protect oicers and citizens within the City of Neenah. Drones are also used for crime scene and accident reconstruction, as well as, assisting the city with various programs and taking photographs for city sponsored events. Lately, there has been an increased need in the use of thermal drones for their capabilities of night vision and thermal imaging. In 2023, drones were deployed on multiple occasions to assist both the city and neighboring communities. Drones were deployed on three SWAT incidents to assist with aerial intelligence and to search buildings. The Neenah Police Department drones were used for four separate assist agency calls. The drones were deployed in the City of Neenah for one missing person case and four patrol calls for service where intelligence was needed.
Page 33 HONOR GUARD The Neenah Police Department’s Honor Guard Team is comprised of nine members and is co-captained by Investigator Paige Kowalski and Patrol Sergeant Rob Ross. The Honor Guard participated in nine events in 2023, representing the Neenah Police Department in several parades, ceremonies and special events. Members of the Honor Guard were sadly called upon several times to fulll one of their primary purposes - to render honor and support to fallen members of Law Enforcement. Wisconsin Law Enforcement Oicers killed in the line of duty in 2023 were: Milwaukee Police Oicer Peter Jerving, Chetek Police Oicer Emily Breidenbach, Cameron Police Oicer Hunter Scheel, and St. Croix County Deputy Kaitie Leising. HONOR GUARD MEMBERS Patrol Oicer Brad Barnard Patrol Oicer Erik Douglas Traic Safety Oicer Tony Edwards School Resource Oicer Erica Geschrei Investigator Paige Kowalski Patrol Oicer Kellen McCarthy Patrol Oicer Dakota Raatz Patrol Sergeant Rob Ross Patrol Oicer Stu Zuehls
Page 34 NEGOTIATIONS The goal of the Neenah Police Department Crisis Negotiation Team is to de-escalate volatile situations and peacefully resolve situations by helping to change the behavior of the person in crisis. It is considered to be one of law enforcement’s most eective tools and is vital when dealing with high risk situations. The Neenah Police Department has eight members who are a part of the Crisis Negotiation team. Members receive 40 hours of training annually. This training is based o of the FBI Crisis Negotiation Model and includes scenario based training, case study and repetition of techniques that are used nationwide. This ensures that the team is ready at all times and operates at a high level. In 2023, the Crisis Negotiation Team responded to multiple calls, one of which included a person in crisis threatening to jump o the I 41 overpass to Winneconne Avenue below. Thanks to the eorts of a negotiator, the incident was delayed by negotiations, and a tactical plan was implemented to save the person from jumping. The team was also called to be on standby for several high risk search warrants. The purpose was to assist if the searches escalated necessitating negotiations. NEGOTIATIONS MEMBERS Patrol Oicer Brad Barnard Patrol Oicer Erik Douglas School Resource Oicer Nate Franzke Investigator Stephanie Gruss Patrol Oicer Kellen McCarthy Evidence Custodian Amanda Moe Behavioral Health Oicer Josh Peterson Patrol Lieutenant Kathy Voelker
Page 35 The Winnebago Area Peer Support Team consists of colleagues from law enforcement agencies within Winnebago County. They volunteer their time to "talk out" problems that law enforcement personnel face throughout their careers. The team members have been trained in basic support methods and help peers cope more eectively with personal and professional stressors in their lives. They are required to attend four hours of annual training to stay current on methods to assist oicers. The program is 100% condential and has been a great success, so far. The team is committed to maintaining and improving the mental health of all law enforcement oicers and professional sta in Winnebago County. The team consists of Community Policing Coordinator Joe Benoit, Investigator Stephanie Gruss, Investigative Lieutenant Amy Wagner and Patrol Lieutenant Kathy Voelker. PEER SUPPORT
Page 36 In 2023, the Neenah High School moved outside of the City and is no longer a part of the Neenah Police Department’s jurisdiction. Shattuck Middle School closed and Horace Mann Middle School became an elementary school. The old Neenah High School on Tullar Road became the Neenah Middle School, which School Resource Oice Nate Franzke is responsible for. School Resource Oicer Erica Geschrei is responsible for the eight Neenah elementary schools. Nate and Erica responded to and investigated approximately 469 calls for service at various schools. On a day-to-day basis, they help supervise cafeterias during lunch time, check buildings for safety considerations and supervise hallways during passing and dismissal times. They work sporting events and other activities taking place in the Neenah Joint School District. They are also responsible for facilitating the homecoming parade each year. SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
Page 37 The SWAT Team is a part-time team of 12 Neenah Police Department police oicers and two Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue Fireghters. The two reghters comprise the TEMS (Tactical Emergency Medical Services) branch of the SWAT Team. Incorporating TEMS members into the SWAT Team allows team members, citizens and suspects to have access to emergency medical aide sooner instead of having to wait to make a scene safe for medical personnel to arrive. In addition to their regular patrol or specialty position trainings, members of the SWAT Team train an additional 12 hours a month on SWAT specic skills and competencies. In 2023, the SWAT Team Commander, Professional Standards Lieutenant Jon Kuel, stepped down from the Team to pursue other opportunities. Lieutenant Jon Kuel joined the SWAT Team in 2008 and had faithfully served as a Team Sniper, Team Leader and Team Commander. Patrol Oicer Caleb Justman also became the newest member of the team last year. SWAT (SPECIAL WEAPONS & TACTICS)
Page 38 The Neenah Police Department Trio is a ceremonial team consisting of three sworn oicers who represent the Neenah Police Department at various events around the area and state. The team is made up of the lead singer, Patrol Oicer Erik Douglas, alto harmony, Patrol Lieutenant Kathy Voelker and base harmony, Crime Analyst/Investigator Austin Riska. The team proudly serves the department in paying tribute to our nation and law enforcement by singing the National Anthem. The Neenah Police Department Trio attends oicial ceremonies, training events and sporting events. In 2023, the team was able to sing at various events in the area. In the fall, the trio had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers game. Two of the members also performed at the Veterans Day Ceremony in downtown Neenah. TRIO
Page 39 IRON COP In November of 2023, members of the Neenah Police Department took part in the 5th annual Iron Cop Challenge. This was an internal competition that incorporated a combination of tness and law enforcement skills through a series of tasks and events. The events included: endurance tasks, short pursuits, memory challenges, pushing disabled vehicles, weapons handling and more. Participants obtained points as they accomplished the various events. The overall winner of the 2023 Neenah Police Department Iron Cop Challenge was Community Policing Coordinator, Joe Benoit. The runner-up was Investigative Sergeant Jeremy Bauman and third place was Patrol Oicer Trevor Jensen. 1st Place Joe Benoit Community Policing Coordinator 2nd Place Jeremy Bauman Investigative Sergeant 3rd Place Trevor Jensen Patrol Oicer
Page 40 The Neenah Police Department is an active participant in the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LWAM), which is responsible for coordinating the drug enforcement eorts of police agencies within the counties of Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet. The Neenah Police Department has one investigator assigned to the MEG Unit who works with oicers from other departments to gather and develop intelligence information, investigate illegal activity and apprehend drug oenders. Emphasis is placed on investigations involving drug traickers and drug traicking organizations in the area. LAKE WINNEBAGO AREA METROPOLITAN ENFORCEMENT GROUP (LWAM) Category Quantity Firearms Seized 58.00 Cocaine - Base (g) 847.79 Cocaine - Powder (g) 24,546.18 Fentanyl (g) 3,213.87 Heroin (g) 38.71 THC Products (g) 80,287.80 Marijuana Plants 37.00 Methamphetamine (g) 5,521.68 Prescription Drugs (du) 1,423.00 Psilocybin (g) 1,142.75 LSD (g) 14.82 MDMA (g) 135.26
Page 41 NEW HIRES Travis Koponen Patrol Officer 6/12/2023 Trevor Jensen Patrol Officer 1/4/2023 Shanu Patel Community Service Aide 4/13/2023 Aidan Schwartz Community Service Aide 4/7/2023 Brent Wittman Patrol Officer 5/8/2023 Eric McLevige Community Service Aide 7/31/2023 Jennifer Priessnitz Patrol Officer 7/10/2023 Bryce Moeller Patrol Officer 10/16/2023 Connor Chicoine Community Service Aide 11/1/2023 Erika Supple Community Service Aide 12/28/2023 Ken Bedora Building Custodian 12/21/2023
Page 42 APPOINTMENTS & PROMOTIONS Erica Geschrei School Resource Officer Appointed on 2/6/2023 Jason Goetz Professional Standards Lieutenant Appointed on 9/18/2023 Austin Riska Crime Analyst/Investigator Appointed on 10/2/2023 Josh Peterson Behavioral Health Officer Appointed on 9/18/2023
Page 43 AWARDS 2023 Exemplary Service Award—Michaela Bedora is an exceptional member of the Neenah Police Department team. Michaela started her career at the Neenah Police Department in 2021 as the Code Enforcement Oicer. In 2022, she not only met expectations, but exceeded them. She inspected 2,059 properties for junk and debris, maintenance of dwelling issues, junked vehicles and so on. Of those 2,059 inspections, she started 714 new cases and issued 80 municipal citations. 2023 Exemplary Service Award—Laurie Krueger is the Neenah Police Department’s Open Records Clerk and is outstanding at her job. In 2023, she received 1,563 open records requests, resulting in 1,956 responses, including over 100 hours of media redaction. Not only are these numbers staggering, Laurie has to dissect each request to make sure the Neenah Police Department is following open records laws and then conduct a balance test on many of these requests. This position is extremely technical and enormously important to the success of the department and city. 2023 Exemplary Service Award—Adam Streubel is a retired Neenah Police Department Investigator and is now the part time Fleet Manager. In 2023, Adam received 228 service requests and was able to complete 189 of them by himself. This means that without his expertise, vehicles would have needed to be transported elsewhere for service, which means he saved hundreds of hours of transport time and countless amounts of operational dollars. Additionally, vehicles were more readily available for oicers, which directly impacts the safety of the City of Neenah citizens. 2023 Oicer of the Year—This award is given out every year and is selected by peers. Erik Douglas was the 2023 Oicer of the Year. His peers wrote down some of the following comments: “Always helping co-workers. Really cares about the Neenah Police Department. Never complains. Always smiles. Always sees the bright side of things.” Oicer Douglas has been a Patrol Oicer at the Neenah Police Department for over seven years. During this time, he has served on the Negotiations Team, Trio, Honor Guard and is currently working on a Mentorship Program. 2023 Supervisor of the Year—This award is given every odd-numbered year to a supervisor who is consistently exemplary in the performance of his/her duties. The 2023 Supervisor of the Year was Lieutenant Kathy Voelker. The following are a few comments made by her peers: "The type of supervisor who goes above and beyond for the team. Never shields away from handling stressful and diicult situations that require considerable negotiation and people skills. Truly listens and eectively communicates and sympathizes with others. Always there for her people." Lieutenant Voelker has spent 25 years at the Neenah Police Department. 2023 Professional Sta of the Year—This award is given every two years and is selected by peers. The 2023 Professional Sta of the Year was Building Custodian John Keesler. Here are some of the comments made about John: "Always willing to help, always goes above and beyond, always works without complaint and is a pleasure to work with every day, always smiling and greeting everyone throughout the department and such a hard worker and such a positive inuence around this department." John has been employed with the Neenah Police Department for 25 years.
Page 44 TRAINING CENTER The new Neenah Police Department Training Center will open in March of 2024. The training center is just under 10,000 square feet and includes the following rooms: • Training room that seats 100 people • Mat room with Virtual Reality Capabilities • Fitness room • Armory • Armorer's workspace • Weapons cleaning room • Six-lane tactical training range
Page 45 150TH ANNIVERSARY 2023 was an extraordinary year as the City of Neenah and Neenah Police Department celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary. In honor of this historic event, a weekly treasure hunt was established by the Neenah Police Department. In 150 years, the City of Neenah has gone from a population of approximately 2,700 people in the early 1870's to over 27,000 today. The formerly one-man Police Department now employs 43 sworn oicers, 14 professional civilian sta and up to eight part-time Community Service Aides. Commemorative sesquicentennial medallions were minted and individually stamped at Metalcraft Mint in Green Bay. Each medallion was made of solid brass, three inches in diameter and weighed in at a hefty 8.3 ounces. The heads side showed the 2023 anniversary badge that was worn by oicers in 2023, anked on each side by badges worn over the history of the Neenah Police Department. The tail side displayed the Council Tree, Trestle Trail, Neenah Rockets, Neenah Foundry, Downtown Neenah, the lighthouse, and the clock tower, along with the unique numerical stamping of each coin. The treasure hunt was inspired by the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass Trail Treasure Hunt. Special hand-crafted glass orbs were hidden each week along the Neenah portion of the Loop the Lake Trail and the nder was able to keep the prize. This encouraged families to get outside and enjoy the trail, which was very successful within the community. The Neenah Police Department decided to initiate a weekly treasure hunt where the medallions were hidden throughout the city each Monday, during the year. Medallions stamped with numbers one through 52, represented each Monday in 2023, and were found by community members when they successfully followed the clue(s) and located the treasure rst! Each Monday, between 12:01 AM and 11:59 PM, the department posted the clue(s) on its Facebook page. The clues ranged in complexity from simple to very complex. Some weeks, a post would picture the treasure with a limited view of the background; while other weeks, the treasure hunter had to decipher a series of codes, which led them to additional clue(s) and then to the treasure. Clues were released at random times to accommodate those who worked dierent shifts or had diicult schedules. The quickest medallion was located within 15 minutes, while the longest adventure took 51 hours and 30 minutes to locate. A special committee was composed to create and vet these weekly expeditions. The committee was known as the Treasure Hunt Team and was made up of Community Policing Coordinator Joe Benoit, Assistant Chief Je Bernice, Mayor Jane Lang, Chief Aaron Olson, Executive Assistant Beth Oosterhous and Parks & Recreation Supervisor Stephanie Schott.
Page 46 150TH ANNIVERSARY CONTINUED... The Neenah Police Department can trace its history back to when the City acquired its charter on March 13, 1873. The following month, on April 5, 1873, the rst City Council meeting was held and the rst Police Chief, J.L. Mathews, was appointed by Mayor Edward Smith for a term of one year. Over the years, the Neenah Police Department badge transformed several times. In early 2019, Chief Aaron Olson began discussing a commemorative badge in anticipation of the department’s 150th year anniversary. Sergeant Clint Driscoll and Traic Safety Oicer Tony Edwards came up with great designs and a vote between three badges was held within the agency. In September of 2021, the sesquicentennial badge was approved. This special badge uses the original six pointed star as the centerpiece, surrounded by the shape of departments second badge. The badge also boasts the State Seal from our present badge and displays the dates of this memorable time frame. The badge was worn by every oicer from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The purchase of these special badges would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the generous donation from the late Steve Morton. Steve Morton was a long time Neenah Police Commissioner and true ambassador to the Neenah Police Department. Not only was he a nancial donor to the Neenah Police Department, but he was a friend and mentor. For his many years of service, contributions and mentorship, the Neenah Police Department Lobby was dedicated to his honor and memory and so, on December 14, 2022, the Neenah Police Department Lobby was oicially named the, “Steve Morton Memorial Lobby”. • Appointed to the Police Commission on May 7, 2008 • First Police Commission Meeting was on June 4, 2008 • Elected President of the Police Commission on May 3, 2017 • Last Police Commission Meeting was on June 3, 2020 The Neenah Police Department is so grateful for Steve Morton's generosity and hopes to carry on his legacy by honoring the man he was! -
Page 47 STATISTICS - ACCIDENTS 2023 Reportable Accidents Accidents with Property Damage 436 Accidents with Injuries 100 Fatal Accidents 2 TOTAL 538 This heat map depicts calls for service that were categorized as accidents (both reportable and non-reportable are included). The Neenah Police Department responded to 1,161 accidents in 2023, with 538 of those being reportable.
Page 48 STATISTICS - ACCIDENTS 2023 Accidents-Light Conditions 2023 Accidents-Intersection Type
Page 49 STATISTICS - CALLS FOR SERVICE 2019-2023 Calls for Service 2023 Calls for Service By Month
Page 50 STATISTICS - CALLS FOR SERVICE - CONTINUED... 2023 Calls for Service By Category
Page 51 STATISTICS - CITATIONS & TRAFFIC STOPS 2018-2023 Citations Issued 2023 Traic Stops 3,561
Page 52 STATISTICS - CITATIONS 2023 Non-Traic Citations 2023 Citations By Category
Page 53 STATISTICS - PARKING 2023 Parking Citations Total: 1,528 Prominent Locations Locations Number of Citations Adams Street 25 Apple Blossom Drive 40 Blue Lot 101 Gay Drive 29 Green Ramp 51 Henry Street 26 Honeysuckle Lane 28 Hunt Avenue 27 Maple Street 28 Marathon Avenue 42 Meadow Lane 41 Primrose Lane 82 Silver Lot 88 Stanley Court 32
Page 54 STATISTICS - SURVEY PROGRAM During citizen contacts, business cards with surveys on the back (pictured left) are handed out. In 2023, there were 220 completed citizen surveys. Of those 220 responses, 96.13% of citizens stated they were either very satised or satised with the contact they had with the Neenah Police Department. To read these surveys, click here. 2023 Survey Results
Page 55 STATISTICS - UNIFORM CRIME 2023 Crimes Against Persons (Group A) 2023 Crimes Against Property (Group A)
Page 56 STATISTICS - UNIFORM CRIME 2023 Crimes Against Society (Group A) 2023 Group B Arrests
Page 57 STATISTICS - USE OF FORCE In 2023, the Neenah Police Department responded to 24,114 calls. Of those calls, Neenah Police Oicers used force 80 times. On the 80 calls where use-of-force was required, multiple oicers may have been involved and oicers may have used more than one type of force in attempt to gain compliance. 2023 Reason for Use of Force 2023 Type of Force Used
Page 58 2018-2023 Warnings Issued STATISTICS - WARNINGS 2023 Warnings By Category
Page 59 SOCIAL MEDIA The Neenah Police Department has had great success using social media platforms both as investigative tools and as a means to disseminate important and timely information. City of Neenah citizens have helped to identify a number of crime suspects as a result of posted surveillance photos. That partnership, fostered by social media, promises to provide many more crime-solving opportunities in the future. Platform Name Followers (Lifetime) City of Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department 22K Neenah Police K9 Unit 1.7K Neenah Police (@NeenahPolice) 3,975 Neenah Police K9 Unit 366
Page 60 Post With the Most Impressions - 521 Post With the Most Shares - 825 Post With the Most Comments - 58 SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUED... Post with the Most Reaches - 50.3K
Page 61 Contact Us 2111 Marathon Avenue, Neenah, WI 54956 (920) 886-6000 police@neenahwi.gov www.neenahwi.gov/departments/police www.neenahwi.gov/departments/police/police-jobs