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Captain Kurt Schoeni

(920) 236-5756 | Email

The Patrol Services Bureau is headed by Captain Kurt Schoeni. The Patrol Services Bureau provides proactive policing services to the citizens of our community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We constantly strive to achieve our mission "to promote public safety and to enhance the quality of life in our community through innovative policing and community partnerships." We accomplish our mission using Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) strategies at the neighborhood level. Guiding our actions are our core values of Pride, Professionalism, Integrity and Teamwork. Our vision is to accomplish excellence in our service to the community, to achieve employee fulfillment, and to set an example for others to follow.

TEAM POLICING:

The Oshkosh Police Department has embraced the philosophy and implementation of “Team Policing.” Team policing is a modification of Community Oriented Policing where relationships are built within the community they serve. The main difference here is that every officer on the Oshkosh Police Department belongs to a team, and the teams are responsible for various areas of the city. There are seven teams and they are comprised of officers from all three patrol shifts and the Detective Bureau.

The main component of team policing is for the officers to work together with the community to establish relationships. Communication is a key factor, and it is important for the officers to share information with each other as well as to share information with citizens. It is so much easier to work on problems and find a solution when all the parties involved know each other. The teams focus on problem-solving and assisting neighborhoods with improving quality of life issues. Policing has generally been reactive; Team Policing is proactive in addressing problem and other nuisance type situations. Several of the teams have distributed crime prevention information and safety tips to the businesses in their areas and have held Neighborhood Watch meetings. Others have participated in Safety Fairs, community education and have been seen “walking the beat.”

Some of the benefits of Team Policing come from the officers truly getting to know their team area better and feeling a sense of ownership for what goes on there. They are more aware of “the little things” as well as the bigger problems. The officers have developed a sense of pride for positive interaction and activity in their area. The citizens also know they can go to one of their team officers, and no matter what the issue, they have someone who will listen and help work out a solution.

The team approach allows officers to continue the day-to-day patrol functions such as responding to calls for service. The major change is what the officers do when they have “free time” and are not assigned to a specific call or duty. Our main function is still to prevent and solve crimes, and Team Policing promotes this with the cooperative efforts of both the police and the community.

CANINE:

Officer Kari Pettit & Eich Law Day - 2002

The Canine Unit completed its seventh full year of operation in 2006. The first Unit consisted of Officer Keri Pettit and Eich, a three-year old German Shepherd. Eich served the Oshkosh Police Department with distinction from December 1999 until his retirement in March 2006 due to medical reasons. Officer Pettit bought Eich when he was seven weeks old from a kennel that breeds canines for police work. She trained Eich, along with a certified police dog instructor from the Appleton Police Department, and a trainer from Campbell Sport. He was trained in tracking and apprehension, officer protection, and narcotics and was certified to "sniff out" and locate marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and meth. One of Eich's biggest catches was when he located a suspect in a jewelry heist from J.C. Penney in Oshkosh. He was also instrumental in making some very significant drug finds during traffic stops. Eich resides with Officer Pettit and her family.

In 2002, Rex, a seven- year old German Shepherd joined the Canine Unit. During his tenure with the Oshkosh Police Department, Rex was instrumental with several drug detection incidents, some of which resulted in arrests. In addition to his law enforcement duties, Rex performed a number of training search demonstrations and provided educational outreach throughout the community in area schools, day cares, and other civic and corporate groups. Rex proudly served the Department until his retirement in 2008.

BIKE PATROL:

In 1990, the Oshkosh Police Department created the Bicycle Patrol Unit as a proactive approach to effectively patrol high-pedestrian areas and events not conducive to conventional patrol techniques and vehicles.

One of the goals of the Bicycle Patrol Unit is to increase bike safety throughout the community through education. Officers assigned to the Unit conduct Bike Rodeos several times a year. These presentations give officers opportunities to inspect bicycles and safety equipment, as well as demonstrate proper riding techniques. Bike officers also make presentations in schools and civic organizations, giving away bike helmets to those who do not have them.

The Oshkosh Police Department has been fortunate to receive several Bureau of Transportation Bicycle grants and funding from area businesses that have promoted and supported the Bike Patrol Unit. With these donations and grant funding, the department has been able to purchase hundreds of bike helmets to be given away to children in the community who needed them.

Members of the Bike Patrol include:

• Sergeant Dave Gomoll
• Sergeant Eric Stenson
• Officer Mary Jo Derenne
• Officer Dave Johnson
• Officer Mike Kirby
• Officer Rachel Kaye
• Officer Ed Skeels
• Sergeant Jeff Nelson
• Officer Tim Skelton
• Detective Jeremy Krueger
• Officer Andrew Lecker
• Detective Brett Robertson
• Officer Nick Kawleski

TACTICAL TEAM:

The Tactical Team of the Oshkosh Police Department is called upon to deal with planned and spontaneous events. These events typically involve large groups of people, situations involving mass arrests or other events where civil unrest may occur. The Tactical Team is made up of twenty-five officers who have been specially trained and equipped to react to and stop the illegal actions of people in these groups. The Tactical Team is also supported by a Tactical Reserve Team made up of ten officers.

CRT (CRISIS REACTION TEAM):

The Crisis Reaction Team is a unit within the Oshkosh Police Department that has specialized training in the use of various techniques and equipment for isolating, containing, and resolving high-risk situations. These situations may be barricaded suspects, suicidal subjects, hostage takers, snipers, dignitary protection or any potentially violent police confrontation. The team is part of a three-pronged approach that also contains Negotiators and the Emergency Operations Center personnel. As a team, this system is used to resolve these situations.

Current members of the CRT Unit include:

• Lieutenant Don Wilson
• Sergeant Jeff Nelson
• Detective Jeremy Krueger
• Officer Brandon Ansell
• Officer Ryan Boerner
• Officer Andy Lecker
• Detective Brett Robertson
• Officer Heath Feavel
• Officer Troy Brandl
• Officer Andy Knurowski

HONOR GUARD:

It is the policy of the Oshkosh Police Department to represent the City of Oshkosh in a professional manner when called upon to provide the Honor Guard at any authorized function such as a funeral, parade, ceremony, charitable cause, or other special event.

The Oshkosh Police Honor Guard consists of ten members:

• Sergeant Brian Schuldes
• Lieutenant Kevin Konrad
• Sergeant Dave Gomoll
• Officer Mark Lehman
• Sergeant Mark Schafhauser
• Officer Tim Skelton
• Officer Troy Brandl
• Officer Mary Jo Derenne
• Officer Will Fowler
• Officer Nick Kawleski

The Honor Guard performs at a variety of different functions such as:

• Funerals for active and retired officers of the Oshkosh Police Department
  
  
• Parades and/or processions/Community celebrations
  
  
• Funerals of active law enforcement officers in the state of Wisconsin
  
  
• Presenting and/or posting the colors at law enforcement related functions such as the Crisis Negotiators Association of Wisconsin Annual Conference and September 11 remembrance ceremonies
  
  
• Participating in the Law Enforcement Memorial in Madison

The Honor Guard receives their initial training at an Honor Guard camp that is put on by law enforcement personnel from around the country.

The Oshkosh Police Department Honor Guard Unit is dedicated to the memory of three officers who gave up their lives in the line of duty.

 

Click the image on the left to visit the Wisconsin National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

 

 

CRASH INVESTIGATION TEAM:

It is the policy of the Oshkosh Police Department to investigate serious injury and fatal traffic crashes by sending out the Crash Investigation Team that is comprised of patrol officers, a detective, and a supervisor. The Crash Team will assist first responding officers by taking measurements, photographs, recovering and processing evidence, and by preparing a scaled diagram of what occurred. Speeds, direction of travel, and points of impact can be established by the reconstruction of the crash scene. The Crash Team works with the District Attorney's Office, the Coroner's Office, and sometimes the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol while investigating a crash.

Members of the Crash Investigation Team include:

• Detective II Dean Artus
• Sergeant Brian Schuldes
• Officer Joe Nichols
• Officer Brian Munsch
• Officer Ed Skeels
• Officer Mark Lehman

TRAFFIC SAFETY:

School Crossing Guard Program:

Crossing guards provide safe crossing for school children at 20 intersections throughout the city. School crossing guards assist over 1,500 children each day to safely cross busy streets.

All clothing and training is provided by the Oshkosh Police Department. Training is conducted once each year prior to the start of the school year and as new guards are hired to the program. The Oshkosh Police Department employs 20 full-time guards and 5 substitutes. A full-time crossing guard works a total of 2 hours per day - 1 hour in the morning - 1 hour in the afternoon. Substitute guards work only as needed on an "on call" basis. The pay for a crossing guard is $12.31 per hour. If you are interested in becoming a crossing guard, please visit our Employment section in the Administrative Services Bureau for more information on how to apply for the position of a School Crossing Guard.

School Crossing Guard Locations
W 18TH AVE & KNAPP ST	JACKSON ST & NEW YORK AVE
SOUTH PARK AVE & KNAPP ST	JACKSON ST & LINWOOD AVE
N MAIN ST/NEW YORK AVE & HARRISON	W 9TH AVE & MINNESOTA AVE
W 9TH AVE & HUNTINGTON PLACE	BOWEN ST & SCHOOL AVE
11TH AVE & OREGON ST	N MAIN ST & LINWOOD AVE
SAWYER ST & COOLIDGE AVE	ELMWOOD AVE & NEW YORK AVE
S OAKWOOD RD & NEWPORT CT	HAZEL ST & MURDOCK AVE
JACKSON ST & IRVING AVE	BOWEN ST & MELVIN AVE
18TH AVE & OREGON ST	W 5TH AVE & SAWYER ST
BOWEN ST & IRVING AVE	WISCONSIN ST/CHURCH AVE & UNION AVE

With the support of AAA's School Safety Patrol Program, schools are able to provide school patrol elementary students to assist the crossing guards. AAA makes available the tools to train the children as well as provide the protective gear necessary to keep our school patrol students safe. If you would like more information regarding the AAA School Safety Patrol Program, simply click the AAA logo:

What Every Driver Should Know About School Crossings:

According to the following State Statutes:

346.57 (4) (a) Fifteen miles per hour when passing a schoolhouse at those times when children are going to or from school or are playing within the sidewalk area at or about the school.

346.57 (4) (b) Fifteen miles per hour when passing an intersection or other location properly marked with a "school crossing" sign of a type approved by the department when any of the following conditions exist:

346.57 (4) (b) (1)

1. Any child is present.

346.57 (4) (b) (2)

2. A school crossing guard is within a crosswalk at the intersection or the other location or, if no crosswalk exists, is in the roadway at the intersection or the other location.

346.57 (4) (b) (3)

3. A school crossing guard is placing in or removing from the roadway at or near the intersection or the other location a temporary sign or device that guides, warns, or regulates traffic.

2007 Assembly Bill 26 states:

Current Law

Current law requires the operator of a motor vehicle approaching a school crossing which is controlled by a duly appointed adult school crossing guard to follow the directions of the crossing guard, including stopping when directed to do so. Current law also provides that if an adult crossing guard observes such a violation, the crossing guard may prepare a written report identifying the vehicle and, within 24 hours, deliver the report to a traffic officer of the county or municipality in which the violation occurred. Within 48 hours, the traffic officer may prepare a traffic citation and serve it on the owner of the vehicle.

Accident Reporting Criteria:

Any accident must be reported when it results in:

• Injury or death of a person
  
  
• $1,000 or more total damage to property owned by any one person
  
  
• Damages of $200 or more to government property (except motor vehicles)

Call the police immediately, and they will report it for you. You have up to 10 days to report an accident to the police. After 10 days, you can self report the accident. This can be done either by picking up a Wisconsin Driver Report of Accident form MV4002 at the police department or following the link provided.

*An accident entry will be put on the record of each driver shown on the accident report. Accident entries remain on the driver record for 4 years from the date of the accident.

Emergency Vehicles:

At different times of the year motorists are reminded to be more alert for approaching emergency vehicles. Heater/air conditioner running, windows up, your favorite tune playing on the car stereo system all make it difficult to hear an emergency vehicle's siren.

Please drive accordingly. Be alert and yield to a police car, fire truck, or ambulance that is responding to an emergency in your community.