Wausau Police & Fire Commission Meeting Pt.2 - 7/27/26

The City of Wausau Police & Fire Commission held a meeting on July 27, 2026, focusing primarily on personnel updates and operational challenges within the Police and Fire Departments. Key procurement-related discussions included plans to develop a formal internal recruitment and selection process for appointing the next Deputy Fire Chief ahead of the anticipated retirement in January 2027. The Police Department reported significant staffing challenges due to retirements, resignations, and injured personnel, necessitating a fall hiring process to recruit 8 to 10 new officers for academy training starting January 2027. Additionally, both departments are implementing new scheduling software, with the Fire Department adopting FirstNet software to improve operational efficiency. The commission also discussed a potential capital project involving relocating the Police Department to a University of Wisconsin campus facility, which could save the city tens of millions of dollars through retrofitting existing structures. The council is expected to vote on this proposal between April and June 2027. A special meeting was scheduled for August 3, 2026, to address urgent personnel matters.