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Jerry Schuetz
Jerry Schuetz
MILTON — Jerry Schuetz believes three Es helped him get his new position of Milton police chief.
"Education, experience and enthusiasm were the three things I like to think set me apart," he said.
Schuetz was chosen from 37 applicants from across the United States to lead the Milton Police Department, the city announced Monday.
The Milton Police Commission offered interviews to six applicants, and five accepted, interim Chief Bob Roberts said. It intended to release a list of finalists this week, he said, but Schuetz ended up being the only finalist.
The commission hired Roberts to lead the police department over the summer and help recruit a permanent chief. He guided the commission through the process, from advertising the job in April to Schuetz's appointment, which came over the weekend. The Milton City Council will vote on contract terms for Schuetz in closed session tonight.
Schuetz is expected to start Aug. 18, Roberts's original target date for a new chief to take over.
Milton Police Commission Chairman Stephen Tupper could not be reached for comment on why the commission chose Schuetz.
Schuetz, 35, has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UW-Eau Claire and a master's degree in public administration from UW-Oshkosh. For the past four years, he has served as police chief in Manawa, a city of about 1,300 between Stevens Point and Appleton. He is an adjunct faculty member in the criminal justice department of UW-Platteville, where Roberts also teaches.
Schuetz has also served as police officer in Appleton and the village of Maple Bluff.
Schuetz said he is familiar with some of the issues facing the Milton Police Department. The department is short two full-time officers while the police union debates retirement benefits with the city.
The police commission faced controversy earlier this year when it announced it was considering rehiring recently retired Chief Tom Gilland. Instead, the commission appointed Roberts to serve as interim chief and conduct a departmental review.
Roberts expects to complete the review by the end of July, he said.
Schuetz said he will work with all areas of the city to resolve department controversies.
"The first thing I'm going to have to do is work on establishing some very strong relationships with the existing staff as well as the elected officials and the police commission," he said.
He also believes in open communication with the press and the public, he said. He won a Wisconsin Newspaper Association award for open government in 2007.
Schuetz is no stranger to handling controversy, said Trey Foerster, managing editor for The Herald-Advocate of Iola and Manawa.
Schuetz took over the Manawa department after his predecessor, Chad Wegener, was arrested on allegations of misconduct in office. Wegener eventually was convicted on two charges of intoxicated use of a gun and two charges of disorderly conduct.
"(Schuetz) came into a very messy department and cleaned it up," Foerster said.
Schuetz built up morale among the police officers and was especially good about mentoring younger officers, Foerster said.
Though young himself, Schuetz said his experience matters more than his age.
"I have a saying that was taught to me once by my father," he said. "It's not necessarily the time that you put in but what you put into that time."