Prescott Police Commission

Police commissions date back to a time, a century ago, when the Wisconsin Legislature enacted a measure establishing such commissions as municipal bodies. Recognizing the critical role of police officers in assuring the public's afety, the Legislature believed that by creating an independent body, one that no political party could come to dominate, the selection and removal of police officers would be insulted from partisan politics.

Although the number of commissions serving Wisconsin communities (approxiately 150 cities, towns and villages have commissions), and complexity of problems commissions deal with have changed, the purpose, role and responsibilities of police commisisons are essentially unchaged from the 1890s.

Wisconsin law specifies that a city with a population of 4000 or more must create a police commission. Although the population of Prescott is more than 4000 today, the city chose to create a police commission many years ago wjhen the population was under 4000.

The police commission is empowered by Wisconsin Statute 62.13. It is an autonomous body of five city residents who are appointed by the mayor. Commissioners serve five year terms and may be reappointed. The commission meets as needed, usually the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at City Hall. Its meetings are open to the public and noticed in advance. Commisisoners are not compensated for their service.

Prescott Police Commission members are William Pryor, chair; William Fetzner, secretary; Jack French, Tom Lee and Steve Peterson.

The police commission (1) appoints, suspends or removes the police chief and police officers, (2) approves all apppointments made by the police chief including promotions of police officers, (3) approves competitive examinations used to judge suitability for appointment as police officers, (4) approves each list of individuals eligible for appointment as police officers, (5) may suspend the police chief and/or police officers pending the filing and hearing of charges against them, (6) initiate charges against the police chief or any police officer and (7) hear appeals of disciplinary actions initiated by the police chief against a police officer.