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Discussion only: downtown officers credited with improved behavior and safety; funding questions remain
Summary
Police leadership and downtown stakeholders told the Resources Committee that two downtown officers funded as an experiment have improved safety and connections to services, but the committee recorded no formal action and budget questions remain about future funding.
The Wausau Resources Committee heard a discussion about two downtown police positions described by police leadership as an “experiment” that has produced measurable changes in behavior and service connections, but the committee took no formal vote on continuing the program.
Police leadership told the committee the two officers—funded initially by the city and later covered for 2025 by the Alexander Foundation—have reduced problem behavior downtown through visibility, enforcement and referrals to services. “Their simple presence downtown and the and their visibility automatically changes behaviors,” the Police Chief said. He added that the officers have connected some individuals to rehabilitation and mental‑health services.
The chief said the positions were originally proposed as an experiment and that partners downtown, including property owners, the Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the district attorney—s deflection and diversion programs, and the Community Foundation, have expressed support for continuing the assignment. The chief said he has a letter from Tim Parker, head of the Community Foundation, and that partners attending the meeting were prepared to speak in favor of continuing the assignments.
Committee members pressed on staffing levels and budget treatment. One member asked whether two officers would still be needed with Bridge Street Mission offering expanded daytime services; the chief said he could not guarantee workload would decline and that, in his view, workload might shift geographically rather than shrink. “I find it hard to believe as I stand here right now that the workload's gonna go down,” the Police Chief said.
On funding, the chief said the Alexander Foundation covered wages and benefits for the two officers for 2025 and that staff hope foundation support will cover 50 percent of the cost in 2026—“which is roughly a $130,000 a year,” he said—leaving the city to cover the remainder in the proposed budget. The chief said the proposed municipal budget currently includes expense for one officer and that a revenue source to cover the second officer is anticipated but not yet added. He also said the downtown positions were not part of the ballot referendum currently described for other positions.
The committee did not make a decision at this meeting; the item was presented as discussion only. Committee members were told staff will continue to evaluate deployment and may revisit staffing levels in future budget cycles.
The transcript recorded community and partner representatives present in support of continuing the downtown assignment but no public testimony was taken during the committee—s discussion item at this meeting.
