Wisconsin
Chapter News
The Wisconsin Chapter is no different than other FBINAA chapters and organizations around the world. Our members and our chapter activities have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting health and safety precautions. Therefore, this edition of Wisconsin’s Chapter Chat is a compilation of member announcements and updates, as well as Chapter events that did or did not take place. It’s indeed a crazy and uncertain time we’re living in! Please, do your very best to stay safe and be well!
Annual Mid-Winter Family Outing
The Wisconsin Chapter hosted its Annual Mid-Winter Family Outing, March 6-8, 2020 at the beautiful Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, WI. The weekend event was attended by 63 adults and 2 children. Among the many activities offered, attendees toured The American Club, Three Sheep’s Brewery, and the Blind Horse Winery. A great time was had by all.
2020 Golf Outing
Given that it is an “open air” event which allowed for adequate social distancing, the Chapter successfully hosted the annual golf outing on August 7th. It was again held at the Ironwood Golf Course in Sussex, WI. A great time was had by all 121 golfers in attendance.
The following Chapter annual events have been canceled in 2020 out of an abundance of caution and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Spring Shoot – April 2, 2020 CANCELED
- WI Chapter Annual Re-trainer – Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, 2020 CANCELED
- Fall Shoot – September 10, 2020 CANCELED
- Annual Holiday Luncheon & Board Meeting – December 3, 2020 CANCELED
Recent Graduates:
NA Session 278 - 2019
- Sergeant Matthew Bach, Rice Lake Police Department
- Lieutenant Michele Haywood, Milwaukee Police Department
- Captain Rebecca Kaiser, Oshkosh Police Department
- Lieutenant Kurt Kitzman, Shawano County Sheriff’s Office
NA Session 279 - 2020
- Lieutenant Ben Allen, Green Bay Police Department
- Captain Bryan Franckowiak, City of Brookfield Police Department
- Captain Jason Freedman, Madison Police Department
Promotions
Benjamin Allen, NA Session 279, promoted to Captain on December 5, 2019. Ben started his career with the Green Bay Police Department in May of 2000. He has served the Green Bay Police Department as a patrol officer, patrol Lieutenant, Detective Lieutenant, Special Assistant to the Chief, Professional Standards Training Lieutenant, and is currently assigned to Captain of the Investigation Division. Ben has been awarded the 2018 Respect for Law Award, 2017 Wisconsin Attorney General Top Cop Award, 2016 Supervisor of the Year award, 2016 Legion of Merit medal, 2015 Wisconsin State Patrol Division Award, 2012 Life Saving medal, and 2010 Field Training Officer of the Year award.
Matthew Rokus, NA Session 261, has been with the Eau Claire Police Department for nearly 25 years. Matt attended UW- Eau Claire, graduating with a degree in criminal justice. He joined the Eau Claire police department upon graduation where he started as a patrol officer and moved up the ranks to eventually become Police Chief on January 9th, 2020.
Brian Kohlmeier, NA Session 258, has served in various roles in the Two Rivers Police Department, most recently as Assistant Chief of Police. He was only 19 when he became a police officer and has been with the Two Rivers Police Department for the last 29 years. Brian was sworn in as Police Chief on February 7th, 2020 replacing retiring Chief Joe Collins.
David Fish, NA Session 274, WI State Patrol – Promoted to Lt. Colonel.
Retirements
Congratulations!
To each of our recently retired members – congratulations on your retirement and thank you for the many years of dedicated service to your respective communities and departments. Wishing you happiness, good health, and endless days spent with your friends, family, and the Wisconsin FBINAA Chapter!
Eric Dunning, NA Session 237, retired on 06/21/2019 after 25 years of dedicated service. Eric started his career with Ashwaubenon Public Safety on September 12, 1994. He has held the positions of Public Safety Officer, Lieutenant, and Commander before taking on the position of Public Safety Director in 2007.
Throughout his career Chief Dunning represented both the Department and the Village with integrity, class and distinction. He has served on numerous committees over the years and was the president of the Brown County Chiefs of Police Association for six years. Eric served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Leadership Foundation for three years.
Chief Dunning also volunteered countless hours through events including National Night Out, Shop with a Cop, COPS Kids Camp, Goof on a Roof, Special Olympics Torch Run, Lights of Christmas, Fill the Cruiser, and his favorite event Santa Ride with the Fire Truck.
Charles Foulke, NA Session 228, retired from Middleton PD on 12/13/2019. Chief Foulke began as an intern at the Middleton Police Department in the summer of 1980. Over the years he advanced up the ranks, serving as a dispatcher, patrol officer, school resource officer, detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Foulke also served as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police , the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association, FBI National Academy Associates and Middleton Youth Commission.
Gerald Staniszewski, NA Session 241, retired on 12/31/2019 following 28 years of service with Eau Claire PD, the last six years as Police Chief.
Russell Jack, NA Session 217, retired on January 2, 2020 after a 30 year career with the Waukesha, WI Police Department, serving as Police Chief for the past 10 years.
Joseph Collins, NA Session 236, retired from the Two Rivers Police Department on February 7, 2020 after a nearly 35-year career in police work. Joe served as Police Chief for the past 15 years with the Two Rivers Police Department.
Matthew Markon, NA Session 225, retired from the Superior Police Department on April 24, 2020. Matt joined the department as a patrol officer in 1991 and retired as Assistant Chief, wrapping up a 29-year law enforcement career.
Ronald Lueneburg, NA Session 224, retired from the Rhinelander Police Department on July 31, 2020. Lueneburg joined the Rhinelander Police Department on May 21, 1990. Ron was promoted to Captain in September 2003. Captain Lueneburg also served for a period of time as interim police chief in 2016. Ron’s retirement follows 30 years of dedication and service to the Rhinelander Police Department and the citizens of the City of Rhinelander.
Alphonso Morales, NA Session 245, retired from Milwaukee Police Department on August 8, 2020. Chief Morales was appointed to the Milwaukee Police Department in 1993. As an officer, Morales was assigned to District Two and the Vice Control Division. In 1999, he was promoted to Detective, working various assignments from burglaries to robberies to homicide. From 2003 until 2009, he served as Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigation Bureau, managing the night shift Gang Crimes Unit and Homicide Unit. In 2010, Al transitioned to the Patrol Bureau where he managed the detective decentralization project. He later worked assignments in Internal Affairs, the Police Academy, and HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas). From 2004 to 2013 he was the Crisis Negotiator Commander of MPD’s negotiators unit. In 2013, Chief Morales was promoted to the role of Commanding Officer of District Two, comprised of more than 87,000 residents. He also ran MPD's Project Safe Neighborhood-High Value Target program, a department-wide initiative designed to reduce violent crime by focusing enforcement efforts on some of the worst gun offenders in the community.
On February 15, 2018 Chief Morales was named Interim Chief of Police of the Milwaukee Police Department. On April 5, 2018 he was named Chief of Police.
Morales holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).
Alex Ramirez, NA Session 220, retired from the Milwaukee Police Department on August 22, 2020. Ramirez joined the Milwaukee Police Department in March of 1991. After graduating from the Police Academy, he was assigned to patrol duties in District 6. Alex was promoted to Sergeant in 1997, Lieutenant in 2001, Captain in 2017, and Inspector in 2019. Throughout his career, Alex served at a number of department work locations, including the Narcotics Division/HIDTA, Districts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, Communications Division, Internal Affairs Division, Intelligence Fusion Center, and Office of Management Analysis and Planning.
Alex holds a Master’s degree in Public Service, specializing in Administration of Justice and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Law Studies from Marquette University. While at Marquette, he also obtained a graduate certificate in Law Enforcement Leadership and Management. Alex is also a 2005 graduate of the FBI National Academy, and a 2017 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.
Dan Bresina, NA Session 233, retired on September 18, 2020 after 28 years in law enforcement. Captain Bresina dedicated his service to the Augusta Police Department, then to the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Bresina served as Field Services Captain and as the Jail Administrator with the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office.
Arleigh Porter, NA Session 149, retired on October 2, 2020 following a 40-year career with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department. During his tenure with the department, Porter served as a detective, administrator, supervisor, and captain before being named Chief in 2010.
Daniel Reilly, NA Session 262, retired on April 30, 2020 as Police Chief of the Caledonia Police Department.
Passings
On behalf of the Wisconsin Chapter, our sincere condolences to the families, loved ones, friends, and associates of:
Michael Gross, NA Session 93, Shorewood Police Department passed on September 10, 2018
David Mayer, NA Session 101, Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department passed on November 20, 2019
Richard “Dick” Sroka, NA Session 126, UW Milwaukee Police Department passed on December 21, 2019
Howard “Howie” Erickson, NA Session 99, Green Bay Police Department passed December 23, 2019
James “Jim” M. Knowles, NA Session 138, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department passed February 21, 2020
Terry Lynn Fell, NA Session 143, City of Beloit Police Department passed on July 25, 2020