By Kim McDarison
The Whitewater Police and Fire Commission has unanimously approved plans to conduct an in-house search for a new police chief.
The search will be conducted by the city’s Human Resources Department in conjunction with the police and fire commission, according to Whitewater Police and Fire Commission Chairman Glenn Hayes.
The commission held a special meeting Thursday during which time the proposed plans were unanimously approved.
The decision was approved during an open-session meeting, which was held directly after the commission deliberated in closed session for approximately 30 minutes.
The closed-session meeting was held, according to the agenda, to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, with the agenda further specifying the item to be discussed as the “appointment of chief of police.”
After the meeting, Hayes told Fort Atkinson Online that he anticipates meeting with the director of the city’s Human Resources Department to develop a process and timeline over which the search will take place.
He further anticipated, he said, that he would be able to return to a special meeting of the police and fire commission in about two weeks, at which time he would be able to further elaborate on the search plan and its associated timeline.
During the meeting, commissioners asked interim Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer if he would be wiling to continue in the capacity of interim while the process was under discussion.
Meyer said he would.
Meyer has been serving in an interim capacity with the police department as its chief since last December when then-Whitewater Police Chief Aaron Raap was placed on paid administrate leave, following an incident that occurred in his Waukesha County home last November.
While charges of simply battery related to the November incident were dropped by the Waukesha County District Attorney’s office, Whitewater city officials announced in December that an internal investigation continued to be ongoing.
During a Whitewater Common Council meeting held Tuesday, June 21, council accepted an employment “terms of release” agreement with Raap, providing him with an option to resign and retire.
Raap officially ended his tenure as an employee with the city Thursday.
In his resignation letter, dated June 29, and shared by the city with Fort Atkinson Online Thursday, Raap wrote: “As per the Common Council approved resignation/retirement agreement between the city of Whitewater and me, I am respectfully notifying you that my final day as our city’s police chief will the Thursday, June 30, 2022.”
He continued: “When I began employment with the city more than four years ago, I found that the police department was a well-organized and professional organization. It was, and remains, comprised of talented and dedicated sworn and civilian staff. They regularly make difficult decisions and institute some very unique solutions to ensure that the safety of our neighborhoods and business corridors are enhanced.
“I believe that I am leaving the police department in even better condition — especially in the areas of community outreach, enhanced transparency and with stronger connections to other entities within the greater criminal justice system.
“Alone, our individual accomplishments are impressive. Together, they are a record of achievement few police departments can match.”
Raap concluded his letter, writing: “I’m confident that the police department is strongly positioned to continue to provide superb law enforcement services.”
An earlier story about the agreement between the city and Raap is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-council-approves-police-chiefs-employment-terms-of-release/.
Members of the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission meet during a special meeting to discuss, first in closed session, and then in open session, plans to hire a new police chief. The commission unanimously approved undertaking a search process which will be conducted by the city’s Human Resources Department in conjunction with the police and fire commission.
Whitewater interim Police Chief Dan Meyer, at left, and Whitewater Police Capt. Adam Vander Steeg converse in advance of the special meeting of the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission held Thursday. Kim McDarison photos.
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