WATERFORD — Nearly 30 people packed into Waterford City Hall Wednesday night to learn about issues plaguing the Waterford Police Department.

The department is currently understaffed and has been without a police chief since January, when the former chief took early retirement.

Previous coverage: Residents seeking answers after Waterford police staff placed on administrative leave

The Racine County Sheriff’s Office currently oversees the department. The President of the City Council, Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, said the agreement lasts until the end of the year and can be terminated at any time.

During the meeting, Jendusa-Nicolai noted that four different investigations were carried out between May and October.

“These are not things you want to know. It’s not something you want to believe is really happening, and I hate to be the one to tell you, but that’s the reality,” Jendusa-Nicolai said.

Mike Beiermeister

However, she did share some examples of what they called “bad behavior.”

One example he highlighted was a call for a physical assault that went unanswered for eight minutes.

“We found out that our officer was sleeping — not just sleeping, but sleeping in a known sleeping area,” Jendusa-Nicolai said.

Another incident he cited involved a part-time officer who left the command center during a critical incident in late July. That officer has since resigned.

Watch: Waterford City Council addresses police department. issues, participants weigh in

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Other cases included a part-time officer who did not sign a department policy form despite having several months to do so. There were also reports that officers did not act on complaints.

“I think the officers are not here to provide those details for themselves, I think it’s a little defamatory,” said Linda Brand, a current patrol officer with the Waterford Police Department.

Mike Beiermeister

She and others in attendance disagreed with some, or even all, of the statements made by the city council.

For example, Jendusa-Nicolai said the department does not have a field training officer (FTO) manual and officers are not trained in it, which can cause liability issues for the city.

“Many, if not all, of our officers have never been FTO trained for our department. This is a problem,” said Jendusa-Nicolai.

Brand disagrees with that claim, telling TMJ4 that training is provided. She also said part-time officers have volunteered to help solve the department’s staffing challenges.

“Allegations that the FTO handbook is not being provided and claims that part-time police officers are not being given details and information on how to help us in this time of need are incorrect,” Brand said.

David Ferger is one of the officers who was investigated and resigned.

He expressed concern about the board’s direction regarding the police department.

“I feel like they have an agenda, and it’s obvious that everyone who’s been investigated has either resigned, been fired, or been threatened with termination, which would basically prevent you from working in this profession at all,” said Ferger.

Mike Beiermeister

Board members attributed the city’s difficulty hiring a new police chief to being bogged down by investigations.

They also said they could not discuss Franklin’s current mayor, John Nelson, who has retired from the Waterford Police Department amid an administrative investigation.

There was no public comment at the meeting.

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