City selects two finalists for police chief position
For Taylor Hale
STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Police and Fire Commission has selected two finalists for the open police chief position and will begin conducting interviews over the coming weeks.
The commission reviewed and conducted initial interviews with 15 candidates. Follow up interviews with the finalists were scheduled to be held during a Feb. 2 meeting.
“The Commission is seeking a community-focused, collaborative, and innovative professional to lead the Police Department,” said commission president, Gary Wescott. “The police chief must possess an unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability, a contemporary leadership style that is deeply rooted in community policing and a demonstrated aptitude for seeking creative, partnership-driven approaches that improve community health and safety.”
The two finalists are Robert J. Kussow and Brent Plisch, both central Wisconsin natives.
Kussow is a Stevens Point Police Department veteran and is currently serving as interim assistant chief. Plisch is presently serving as assistant police chief at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“Throughout my 23-year career, I have been fortunate enough to serve the city of Stevens Point as a patrol officer, sensitive crimes investigator, school resource officer, patrol supervisor, operations sergeant in charge of training, detective lieutenant in charge of the investigations bureau, and several instructor/additional duty positions with the SPPD,” Kussow said. “I am also a graduate of the Leadership in Police Organizations program and will be attending the
Wisconsin Command College in September of 2021.”
Plisch said that he is eager to join the city’s “finest.”
“His previous roles with the department include administrative captain, investigations lieutenant, sergeant, patrol sergeant, K9 handler, field training officer, community liaison officer, bike unit officer, and he has worked all three patrol shifts,” read a summary of Plisch’s duties. “Many of these roles have put Brent into contact to work closely with department functions including human resources, budget, emergency management, accreditation and training, and other administrative areas.”