Left, Stevens Point Assistant Police Chief Tom Zenner (left) with Chief Kevin Ruder (right).

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point Police Chief Kevin Ruder last night took city leaders to task for what he considers a failure to pay assistant police chiefs appropriately.

Ruder, whose been with the city’s police department for 25 years, said Assistant Police Chiefs Tom Zenner and Marty Skibba- the two men he relies on most in the department- aren’t being paid what they’re worth.

“It’s not just about the money,” Ruder said in an exclusive City-Times interview last week. “It’s about being recognized for the work you do. I mean, look at Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau- even Plover pays more. How are you going to keep people here if somewhere else nearby pays more?”

Ruder addressed the city’s Personnel Committee Monday night during a presentation of a large- scale pay study for city workers. The study showed very little in terms of specifics, but did show city management is being underpaid when compared with other municipalities.

It was a point that brought the typically soft- spoken Ruder to raise his voice, and then brought him audibly close tears.

“I’ve been in management for 12 years, and in that 12 years I’ve seen a wrong: we’ve been doing career development in the police department for many years, not to bring a cheaper product into this city, but to bring a better product to this city. This is wrong,” Ruder said, then added sternly: “This needs to be fixed. Stevens Point is better than this.”

Ruder’s voice began to waiver and he cleared his throat several times before going on.

“I’ve worked here 25 years; I’m passionate about this city. I didn’t come here to become rich; I didn’t come here to be kicked. When I’ve got assistant chiefs making $7,000 less a year than the neighboring Plover comparable- I’m sorry, I’m passionate about this. You want me to find the money, I’ll find it,” he said, his voice shaking.

Ruder then was overcome with emotion and left the room.

The two assistant chief positions currently earn $72,165 annually without benefits. In the earlier interview, Ruder said he knows that’s higher than the “average Joe” but added his assistant chiefs are among the lowest- paid in Central Wisconsin.

According to Village of Plover Treasurer Debbie Sniadajewski, Plover’s second- in- command law officer is a police captain, who draws a salary of $79,461.

The Stevens Point Police Department is facing other budgetary issues as well. Ruder requested additional funding from the city to put more officers on the force last year but was denied, prompting the creation of the volunteer auxiliary police force.

For the 2014 budget, Ruder said he’s requested enough funds for three additional officers, including two patrol officers and one cyber crimes investigator. The lack of a cyber crimes officer, he said, puts Stevens Point “dangerously behind” when it comes to investigating computer crimes and child pornography.

The department is also facing issues with outdated radios, which are 3 years past the 7 year manufacturer warranty, and hopes to address that issue as soon as possible.

The City-Times will follow this story during the Stevens Point budget process.