The bottom line is that Footville is getting better police service from the Rock County Sheriff's Department. This is not the fault of Orfordville or the Orfordville Police Department, it's just the way that things work out. I have met Chief Wickstrum on two occasions and was very impressed with his professionalism and his demeanor. Orfordville would be lucky to keep him. Former Chief Morris did the best that he could for Footville with the resources available to him, but two towns were just too much for a small department. I think that they can do a good job for one town and I wish them the best of luck.

Thank you Chief Wickstrum!!
& Thank you to the the EMS department for responding for my little girl out near Hanover.
I appreciate all the services that you provide to us in the community.

Having worked with Chief Wickstrum (as a member of a different department) in his capacity as chief of Orfordville (both stints) and also when he was part of Brodhead P.D. I can attest to the fact that he truly is an asset to any department he chooses to work for.
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For the sake of Orfy I hope he chooses to stay.

Over my 35 years in LE I have had the honor of creating several police departments, revitalizing several others and improving the others I have had the privilege to serve. It’s not about who’s better, we should all do the very best we possibly can. Nothing is impossible to achieve is the lesson I took away from serving in the USMC. How you perceive small town policing depends on whether or not you are a small town product. I was and had great respect for the three coppers who patrolled my small town. I guess as a teenager I made fun of them, but grew older to respect the dedication they gave to our community. In a small town you have a “buy in” to the community. You want to see the community and people in it do well. You usually work with them to solve problems and a lot of time these are permanent solutions. You are usually a little softer with your approach as you usually see the people you serve, correct, and even arrest, sitting across from you when you eating lunch in one of only several restaurants a small town can support. I certainly know how to be a tough-guy, Marine Corps taught me that part, but then our citizens aren’t the Cong and don’t need to constantly see me flex my mussels. What they do need is to know that we care about their safety and well-being and that I would and will give my life for them if I were called to. Show them that and they won’t even resent you when you feel it necessary to issue a citation or arrest them for something. Give them your respect and work hard to earn theirs. It’s not the money spent which most people have issue with. It’s usually what they receive for the money it cost. I know I pay more for a Cadillac and I feel good for the value it provides. When I take issue with the Cadillac is when I go out to drive it and it doesn’t start or runs poorly. Cheaper is not always better, nor is high price always what works better. Test drive it, kick the tires, challenge it to deliver what you expect and demand for what ever money you intend to spend. When it performs to your expectations your find that money takes a lesser measure of importance. Sheriff’s Deputies, local Police Officers. Serving in this day and age is a tough balancing act whatever color the uniform. Who serves where matters less then who serves well. I sure hope that all of us LE officers in Rock County continue to serve well where ever we are called to. I witnessed first hand the results of all of us working together when Footville had their bank robbed last year. What I feel worse about is that someone would make a statement that there’s bad blood between Footville and Orfordville. Heck we share the same churches and high school. Maybe the next generation will feel differently if I serve my best. Our two small communities combined, working together, would have the potential to be as self sufficient as our neighbor communities to the north and west.

The village board needs to send this chief packing.

he should come to the JPD and take it easy the last few years of his career. He could be chasing mean, ferocious felines, and getting lap dances paid for by the tax payers. And lets not forget Janesville has 2 dunkin donuts, orfordville has none.

I think that the police force in Orfordville does a great job! The officers take time to make sure that the young people in our area know who they are and make sure they know they can help them! I work with them since I am on the fire/ems department. I appreciate when they respond to calls in our area and help! They are a big help and very appreciated! RCPD also responds and helps out! They are all very generous and great to work with! Thanks again!

tallman: what do you mean "far more reaching arrest powers"? All officers in the State of Wisconsin have the same arrest powers. I live in a rural area - not Orfordville or Footville - and to get a deputy to respond to a call takes forever. Maybe you should check and see how many deputies are on duty each shift before you decide that they could do a better job.

As with many opinions, there is mostly a one-sided view being given. So let me give the other side. It is very neccessary for the Orfordville Police Department to remain intact, thus the need for the department head as well. Nearly all county sheriff's deputies want the village to get its own call taking, incident response, and onscene deterance. I would think these patrol officers would have a generally more objective view and understanding. Only administrations with money on the brain have other view points. It is always this way with all employments-get by with as little as possible and look good to the tax payers. I know for a fact that deputies have been needed for calls of service in the village, while they also had calls of their own out on the highways and such. Furthermore, the village police officers have been used to assist the deputies in and around the village-yes including Footville and Hanover, because the deputy was busy already or assisting another deputy with their call in another area. When you "request open records" be informed and consider my points I just made. Let me tug at your hearts....If your loved one is seriously injured in or near the Orfordville limits and the responding deputy was at least not near there at the time, how important would it be for the village officer to be there on the spot. Now consider multiple instances, such as the horrible weather we had this winter. Not to mention deterance. Otherwise only one county officer handles three villages and the entire southwest corner. Maybe you should ask that deputy what they think. In fact Orfordville should put on a third full timer.

I know Chief Wickstrum to be a fair and compassionate police officer. He goes out of his way and takes the time to ensure the safety of our children before and after school. Thank you Chief Wickstrum!
I hope Chief Wickstrum continues on in Orfordville. He is doing a great job!

There is no way that Footville should go back to paying Orfordville for non-existant services. There is enough bad blood between them now from other events that I doubt the Footville Village Board would even consider it.
The Sheriff's Dept. already has a office in Footville that they use and it seems to be working out well.

Orfordville could far better serve their citizens by contracting the county like Footville has done. They should at the very least go and speak with the Sheriff examining their options and broader opportunities. The County now answers many of the Orfordville calls anyhow. It would be far more fiscally responsible for the Village fathers to contract the county, as at present it cost the citizens a great deal and much more than to contract the county. Especially to get what little service they are receiving now for their tax dollars. Citizens should request open records for the county to see how many calls they have anwered in comparison to how many the village officers have handled in the last year. Make sure to compare the times and seriousness of all those anwered calls by both agencies. You might have your local department answer the dog loose calls etc, but the more serious calls go to the Sheriff and or are referred over to the Sheriff for investigation. Between Orfordville and Footville it could be financially possible for the Sheriff to hire a full time deputy who has far more reaching arrest powers than the village officers and this deputy could use the Orfordville Police department for a southeastern district. Yes this deputy could answer calls in the surrounding county area also, better serving that entire proximity with much faster response time. At any rate the citizens who pay the bills should take the time to go ask Footville residants and their board if they would ever consider going back to contracting Orfordville which in essence was to be giving Footville small town coverage. You will have the answer to your dilema of even having a police department.