Several Officers Show Support for Police Chief Candidate
Police and Fire Commission still undecided on who will be the next police chief in Port Washington.
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A number of Port Washington officers attended a meeting on Monday night to show support for Lt. Michael Davel, one of four remaining candidates for the police chief position opening at the end of December, according to Police and Fire Commission Chair Rick Nelson.
One retired officer also showed up in support of candidate Capt. Michael Keller; the other candidates include Port Lt. Kevin Hingiss and Lt. Jonathan Schmitz of the Brown Deer Police Department and also a Port resident.
"We were very happy to have their input, but this job is not a popularity contest … it’s not who gets the most votes by the officers or the public," Nelson said. "We had what I thought was a very healthy discussion on all four of (the candidates), and did not come to a conclusion yet of who we thought was the right person to be put in the position at this time."
While the position is not an elected spot, it is one that is assigned to that person for life, and that's why Nelson said the commission is being careful about their decision.
"What we did last night is we discussed the candidates and their strengths and if they had any weaknesses … I’d love to eventually get to a 5-0 consensus on a candidate," he said.
The commission plans to meet one more time before their regularly scheduled board meeting in early December, and Nelson said that meeting will likely be right after Thanksgiving.
Betty
2:35 pm on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I don't understand why the commission is afraid to make a decision. It looks like this one candidate has everything they are looking for and it doesn't make sense that they are going to wait around the holidays and leave all these poor men waiting and stressing - - . It isn't a popularity contest but these officers put their lives on the line and if there is one clear leader in the group and has the qualities you wanted (I think you said they all did in previous article) pick him already. Maybe the Mayor needs to step in and help you commissioners get this done.
Terry
5:53 pm on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Some? Several? From what I was told by someone there, there were almost a dozen officers there, with several others being represented because they couldn't attend. In a department that size, that is most of them.
I understand that this is not a popularity contest or an election, but it appears clear that our police officers already look to this Lieutenent Davel as a leader. I would think its time to make that official.
Dave
7:07 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Chief's job should be eliminated...Save money
bonnieknaub@sbcglobal.net
8:29 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Our police chief should be someone who knows Port Washington, has lived he and raised his children here, sent them to Port Washington Schools and already knows Port Washington's sense of community.
Betty
2:45 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I just read the Ozaukee Press article too on this subject and I think someone should also talk about how qualified LT Davel is for the job and not just that the officers want him. The commission is doing him an injustice. While talking with others in the community I found out that he served over 10 years in the military as a police commander, that he was in charge of safety for troops in an foreign place. He has been the marshall in Fredonia that is their chief and the village has great things to say about him. I say don't sell him short and there must be reasons why so many officers support him.
Inside story
6:11 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
1) davel has had some personal family problems that hindered the desicion
2) good police officers do not always make good Chiefs ( he appears to be a good cop)
3) when the fellow police said they wanted him as a boss that was the dagger As you do not want the employees picking the boss.