The Whitewater Fire Department and Police Department continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of their community with updates, as highlighted at the Sept. 9 Police and Fire Commission meeting.
Recent developments include new equipment, training and new staff. Recent training includes hazmat sessions and two joint thermal training sessions. One of the joint thermal training sessions took place in a classroom and the other in a live fire setting. Fire extinguisher training is scheduled for the fall with several businesses in the industrial park. It was also reported that some geotechnical work for the department is now complete.
In terms of equipment, Fire Chief Kelly Freeman reported that a major upgrade to the department’s Project 25 radio system is nearly finished.
“We’re almost there, so we’re all excited to have the new paging radio system operational,” Freeman said.
The Fire Department is also preparing for a new ladder truck that is expected to arrive within the next few weeks. Assembly for the truck will begin immediately after its delivery, with an estimated 45-day setup period before the vehicle is fully operational. A replacement ambulance is also expected to arrive within the next 30 days.
The Police Department reported that it has welcomed three new hires. Olivia Monson, who joins the department from the Fitchburg Fire Department, has five years of experience. Jeremy Alexander, who has prior experience in the U.S. Marine Corps, is currently enrolled at Waukesha Area Technical College, where he is about one-third of the way through the police academy.
Lastly, Jack Bridleman, a graduate of Gateway Technical College, was sworn into the department two weeks ago. Bridlemans’ field training will be conducted soon. Looking ahead, the department also plans to post a patrol officer position within the next two weeks and expects a hire in early 2026.
In August, police staff completed de-escalation training as well as swatting training.
“For those who aren’t familiar with swatting, that’s a term that was coined from incidents,” Whitewater Chief of Police Daniel Meyer said. “It’s where an off-premise person will call in a false call that will create a SWAT-type response with the intent of creating mayhem. This has created some serious issues in other jurisdictions where police officers will enter a premise under the impression that something serious is happening there. We actually had a couple of these calls in the last couple of years.”
Due to this, Chief Meyer said officers and dispatch have been trained in techniques to help assess the credibility of emergency calls.
The department is also partnering with the Whitewater School District to provide staff with the proper “Evacuate, Evade, and Defend” training.
The numerous updates discussed at the meeting focus on the city’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety, supporting first responders and ensuring everyone in the community is prepared and protected.
