Grand Chute has chosen its next police chief.
The Grand Chute Police and Fire Commission announced Aug. 7 that it has appointed David Maas as new town’s new chief of police, effective Sept. 15.
Maas, a town resident, has 16 years’ experience policing, according to a news release from the town. He’s been with the department for six years and was Captain of Patrol prior to this promotion.
The decision follows a nationwide search, according to the release, and Michael Rindt, commission president, “(expressed) great satisfaction” with the quality of candidates.
“The Commission was consistently impressed with David Maas’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and experience,” Rindt stated in the release. “His institutional knowledge of the department and deep connection to the Grand Chute community made him the clear choice to lead our police force into the future.”
Maas said it was an honor to be able to serve the community he calls home.
“I’m excited to lead our exceptional group of talented professionals and build upon the past success of the organization,” he said in the release. “Above all, I am dedicated to ensuring that our police service is guided by the highest ethical standards and remains responsive to the needs of our community.”
The search for a new chief followed the March announcement that Chief Greg Peterson, whose career in policing spanned 45 years. Under Peterson’s leadership, the police department added its first police dog unit in 2011 and its second one in 2019. The department was accredited by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group in 2014 and has maintained that status ever since.
In addition, the department has introduced its Community Hotel Intervention Program, a public health vending machine and overdose action kits to combat the fentanyl crisis, an automated license plate recognition system, and a drone-as-a-first-responder program.
Duke Behnke contributed to this report.
Taima Kern is editor of the Appleton Post-Crescent. She can be reached at tkern@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Grand Chute promotes patrol captain to role of chief of police
Reporting by Taima Kern, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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