Wausau PD Podcast

Former Detective and current Administrative Captain Nathan Cihlar sits down with Detectives Jim Martin and Nick Walters to learn more about investigations at the Wausau Police Department. They dive into the daily operations, specific challenges they encounter in their investigations, and discuss the technology that has developed in their detective work.

Happy Podcast Friday!  The main ingredients that make the Wausau Police Department effective and an awesome place to work are the people that work here.  In this episode, we were able to catch up with Officer Claire Ostrowski to learn more about her.  Although she was hired in 2020, Officer Ostrowski came to Wausau PD with several years of experience from another agency. An instructor, trainer, and all-around solid patrol officer, Officer Ostrowski has been a great addition to our department and community. The Wausau PD Podcast is also available on YouTube, Facebook, and other major platforms.

Two weeks ago, we were scheduled to sit down with a couple of School Resource Officers (SROs) and our newest therapy dog, but we had to reschedule.  Well, this week came through and Lt. Pauls caught up with Officer Koua Thao and Officer Nick Stetzer w/ his new K9 partner, Timber.  They talked about the work an SRO does in the schools, and the inception & development of the therapy dog program.  Enjoy! The Wausau PD Podcast is also available on YouTube, Facebook, and other major platforms.

In this episode of the Wausau PD podcast we chat with one of our newest officers, Garrett Johnson, and his current field trainer, Cody Holder, to talk about the department's field training program. You'll hear some perspective on what it's like to adjust to a new career, how our field training program is designed to prepare new officers for solo patrol, and what field trainers are looking for in a trainee. You just might get the itch to change careers as well!  The Wausau PD Podcast is also available on YouTube, Facebook, and other major platforms.

Join Capt. Ben Graham as he speaks with two members of the Wausau Police Department's chaplain program.  What is a police chaplain? What do they do and what don't they do? Find out how our department and community are better served by having this awesome program in place. The Wausau PD Podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and other major platforms.

Hey everyone, it's another (every other) Friday, which means it's time for the next episode of the Wausau PD Podcast! Riding on the heels of some friendly PD vs. FD rivalry, Chief Barnes sat down for an in depth conversation with Wausau Fire Department Chief Jeremy Kopp. (With a name like that, you'd think he was destined for police work!) Chief Kopp talks about his journey to the Chief's office and the critical work performed by the fire department. The Wausau PD Podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and other major platforms.

The women of the Wausau Police Department make incredible contributions to our agency and community.  In this episode, Capt. Melinda Pauls is joined by Lt. Jen Holz and Ofc. Mallori Buchkoski to discuss unique challenges women face in this male-dominated career, talk about how their talents and leadership benefit our profession, and to share advice for other women looking to get into policing. ⭐️You won't want to miss this episode!

It's time for episode 7 of the Wausau PD Podcast! For this episode, Chief Barnes invited Wausau City Clerk, Kaitlyn Bernarde, to sit down and talk about all things election-related. Whether you have questions about absentee ballots, how to register to vote, or what plans & laws are in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process at polling sites, we hope you'll find this conversation informative and engaging. The Wausau PD podcast is available on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, and other major platforms.

Law enforcement careers can come with a tremendous amount of stress. It is important to have resources in place to ensure our staff can effectively manage that stress and the trauma that accompany this work. In this episode of the Wausau PD Podcast we visit with Lt. Jill Kurtzhals and Ofc. Jena Zinkowich to learn more about the department's Peer Support Team and how they are ready to help those staff in need. Lt. Kurzthals has previously shared the account of one incident that propelled her involvement in peer support. That video can be viewed here:    • "It's okay to say you're not fine" | ...

Of the many facets of law enforcement, use of force has to be the most discussed and most trained topic.  It is also perhaps one of the most misunderstood topics.   In this episode, Capt. Ben Graham and Lt. John Phillips have a ‘Use of Force 101’ conversation to begin explaining the complexities of this important issue.   The Wausau Police Department policy manual, including its Use of Force policy (#300) can be found here: https://www.wausauwi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10661/638417894705600000

Detective Dave Bertram came to Wausau PD nearly a decade ago, but his origin story started way before then. Officer Kutchenriter recently took some time to learn more about this member of our department. From military deployments & a stint with the Wisconsin State Patrol to his work in the Investigations Bureau, Det. Bertram has a servant's heart.

Join Capt. Ben Graham for episode #3 of the Wausau PD Podcast as he visits with Officer Sarah Bedish and Mental Health Therapist Kristen Seidler to learn more about the department's Victim Resource Unit.

Hey everyone, it's time for episode #2 of the Wausau PD Podcast!  Deputy Chief Baeten recently sat down with Chief Barnes to discuss challenges & opportunities facing the department and community.

Buckle up - it's our debut episode of the Wausau PD Podcast!  Get to know Chief Matt Barnes better as Lt. Nathan Pauls speaks with him about his path to the chief's office.