Fremont Police Department collapses within four days due to cost and staffing constraints
FREMONT, Wis. (WFRV) -Just four days after a resolution to dissolve the Fremont Police 6H Department, the board of trustees voted to approve it unanimously, 7-0, due to staffing and budgetary issues.
“The board voted unanimously to pass resolution 24-01, which is a resolution to dissolve the Fremont Police Department,” Village of Fremont Clerk Treasurer Megin Wunderlich said.
Roberta Marks, village president, declined to be interviewed for this story but said in a text that it is “too costly and difficult to recruit and retain employees” for the police department.
The other six trustees declined to be interviewed for this story, and it remains unclear why the resolution was passed in such a short timeframe.
Local 5 News obtained a copy of the resolution, which states that the police budget is half of the village levy, Fremont is not required by law to have municipal police services due to its small population of 685, and that only 15 citations have been issued by the department since January 2021.
“The Village of Fremont does not now, or in the foreseeable future, possess adequate resources to continue to operate, maintain, staff, and fund a police department,” it reads. “The Village Board does not deem it necessary for the public health, safety, and wellbeing for the Village to continue to provide its own police services.”
According to the resolution, village staff will work with the village attorney to pass an ordinance amending the village code about the police department in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Waupaca County Sheriff’s deputies will assume full law enforcement responsibilities for Fremont as a permanent contract is to also be developed. The sheriff’s office already provided services for the town when an officer was not on duty, which was frequent.
At the time of its dissolvement, the department had one full-time officer, a part-time assistant, and an interim chief.
“When we didn’t have an officer on staff or working, [Waupaca deputies] would cover regardless, so they still are in that capacity,” Wunderlich explained.
The full-time officer also attended the meeting and supplied frequently-asked-questions handouts in response to the resolution.
Bullet points argued that the village board has not been honest with the public or the police department, an officer resigned in December as a result of the board’s poor management, and a recent survey reported that 72% of respondents would like investment in enhancing police facilities and visibility rather than dissolution of the department.
“There was a lot of good information given by the sheriff’s department, there was a lot of good input from the local police department here, and it was a good meeting. I thought it was very informative,” Rick Romenesko said, who is renovating an Airbnb across the street from the village hall. “I believe it would improve. The reason being is that the employed [officer] for the village right now is overwhelmed.”
Romenesko believes that the biggest concern for residents is law enforcement coverage in the summer months when Fremont’s population balloons in size with vacation-goers.
“Concerned about coverage, during the busy times of summer when you have so many people coming in,” he said. “The [village and sheriff’s office] could put together the hours that they’d like [the deputies] to be working in the village, that would be a great plan I believe.”
While that was discussed at the meeting, the Fremont Police Department employee argues that a level of that coverage designation will be lost.
“The village may encounter extended response times,” the handout argued. “There will be an overall overall loss of control in the style of policing in the village.”
The employee wrote that this all started nine months ago, at a board of trustees meeting on June 26, 2023.
“Trustee Bartol assured the community present that despite rumors of the police department’s disbandment circulating online, such actions were not being pursued. In fact, he emphasized plans for the department’s growth rather than dissolution,” she wrote. “The trustees dismissed this all as ‘misinformation.'”
The employee cites another instance that raised the temperature: On November 1, 2023, Bartol said, “When the next chief fails, they’ll just shut down the police department.”
Staffing problems allegedly arose surrounding compensation when the board removed the interim chief’s authority to set wages and benefits for department members, causing candidates for positions to withdraw their applications.
Low compensation that has not kept up with inflation and no health insurance has also deterred applicants, the employee argued. She also stated that salary and vacation time increases are lacking.
“Disagreements over key policy, such as compensation and benefits for current and future officers, highlight fundamental differences between the board and department,” she wrote.
Another sore spot for the employee was the hiring process for a new chief, including department members not being notified of the former chief’s resignation until nine days later.
“The department was not allowed to be informed of the selection process, raising concerns about notification procedures and chain of command,” the document read. “There are limitations on certain actions in the absence of a chief or command staff, as stipulated by ordinance, state and federal law. That is why the department immediately and consistently voiced concerns about lack of command.”
The final remaining part-time officer reportedly left in December 2023 as a result of the board’s handling of management issues.
According to the employee, lack of visibility in the community has been a concern of residents, which she in part blames the board for due to staffing constraints and squad car issues, in that the board has restricted repairs and replacement of cars, “leading to prolonged periods without a functioning squad car.”
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Despite the points shared at the meeting, Romenesko does not have any safety concerns in the small town along the Wolf River.
“It’s a great town,” he said. “I feel very safe here. It’s a great community; people watch after one another.”
