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Orfordville police chief says he's not planning to retire

By GINA DUWE ( Contact )   Thursday, January 17, 2013 - 4:47 a.m.
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ORFORDVILLE--Orfordville Police Chief Dave Wickstrum said the agenda for last Monday’s village board meeting caught him by surprise.

It included a closed session “to start the process of finding a new Chief of Police due to the retirement of Chief Wickstrum.”

Wickstrum said he has no intention of retiring.

Before the meeting started, Wickstrum gave each board member a letter stating his intent to continue working beyond the end of the year.

“Last fall, the police committee recommended that my contract be extended through 2013, and ultimately the full village board voted to approve that recommendation,” he wrote in his letter.

“Although there was some discussion concerning my retirement at that time, I have not pursued ending my career as I feel I am in good health and believe that I still function in the capacity as a police officer to a better-than-average standard.”

He said it must be a misunderstanding, but no board members have contacted him since getting his letter.

For a full story, read Thursday’s Gazette, read online in the Gazette’s E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com.




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(10)
hdonlybob
Jan 17, 2013 at 2:55 p.m.
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"OMG Mr. Worth, does that ever bring back memories."
Are you talking about Judd Worth ????
Now he was indeed a piece of work. Talk about horse dung for brains....Bahahha...had forgot about that moron....
Thanks for the laugh...

neverforget
Jan 17, 2013 at 2:17 p.m.
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OMG Mr. Worth, does that ever bring back memories.

tikiman1
Jan 17, 2013 at 1:36 p.m.
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tpaine09, that's hilarious.

It always surprised me at how bored the Chiefs in Orfordville were.

We always got harassed when I was a kid to. I was very vocal with my first amendment rights & the way the Chief disrespected people. (my dad has MS & the Chief harassed him about it once) Chief Chitwood had a standing order on me & my friends to follow & harass us whenever one of us were seen in public. It was quite annoying at first. Then we just started shooting the, um, breeze with his officers. The officers could be seen talking to us by the city council members & they wouldn't get in trouble for not harassing us that way. Man we had a lot of good laughs between us all at the Chiefs expense. Good times.

tpaine09
Jan 17, 2013 at 12:41 p.m.
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yea, old dave, now that brings back some memories..he used to team up w/mr worth the school principal..and they would hang out in his car @lunch to harass the kids..like the time they disarmed some of the kids that had squirt guns.that was a big bust for orfordville..

2centsworth
Jan 17, 2013 at 12:05 p.m.
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I have worked with Chief Wickstrum and he is an asset to any Department. He is there for the people unlike some board members or councils. This appears to be a travesty. I am sure he can handle any situation very well.

tikiman1
Jan 17, 2013 at 11:09 a.m.
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"I feel I am in good health and believe that I still function in the capacity as a police officer to a better-than-average standard.”

I haven't been out to Orfordville in quite a while. Is he a big tub like the old chief Chit....? ( fill in the rest of the name yourself) If so, maybe he should be fired. A police officer should be in good physical condition and be able to complete physical training exercises in a given time just like U.S. Military personnel. A police officer is, after all, a soldier of our streets.

If there is one thing that I don't like it's running down a suspect because an officer is to round to run without falling over. (yes, this has happened)

JoyM
Jan 17, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.
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So, after he handed them the letters before the board meeting started, did they still follow through with that agenda item, and start planning for a recruitment right in front of him?

QuestionsComments11
Jan 17, 2013 at 10:09 a.m.
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I think it is the board that should be retiring. This is nonsense to have a controversy like this. Get your act together board members or at least clarify why you are doing this.

hankidan
Jan 17, 2013 at 9:40 a.m.
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Chief Wickstrum doesn't need to go anywhere, and anyone who thinks otherwise perhaps needs to go someplace else. He's been great for Orfordville.

hdonlybob
Jan 17, 2013 at 8:53 a.m.
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Dave is a good Chief of Police, and does not need to go. He has served Orfordville well.
This Orfordville board is getting a bit weird...
Don't fix something that isn't broken...

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