Stevens Point News

Main Menu

  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Crime
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Edition
    • Stevens Point City Times

logo

Stevens Point News

  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Crime
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Edition
    • Stevens Point City Times
Community NewsStevens PointTop Feature
Home›Community News›Carlson resigns from police & fire commission

Carlson resigns from police & fire commission

By Taylor Hale
March 23, 2021
1769
0
Share:

By Taylor Hale

STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point Police & Fire Commissioner Ron Carlson has resigned, stating that Mayor Mike Wiza would not reappoint him to avoid having “all white, middle-aged men,” in the commission. Carlson resigned one month early of his potential reappointment, sending a notification to Wiza on March 17.

“After meeting with you on March 5th to discuss department head interviews with the police chief candidates you told me I would not be reappointed by the common council when my term expired. When I questioned you as to why your reply was the council does not want a Police and Fire Commission made of all white middle-aged males,” Carlson said in his statement to Wiza.

Carlson is a police veteran with 43 years of community service. He retired from the police department in 2010 after 32 years of service, leaving as assistant police chief.

“To add insult to injury, when I said I will quit immediately you asked me not to, just in case no one else applied for the vacancy. I guess I was good enough then even if I was a white, middle-aged man,” Carlson added.

Wiza said that he did use the words “white, middle-aged men,” but said they were the blunt words used by some members of the council.

“I’ve known Ron a very long time, and have a good amount of respect for him and his service. I felt an obligation to bring him in and let him know why I wasn’t going to recommend him for reappointment.,” Wiza said. “The words weren’t my words, those were the words that came from some on council, and I don’t think that anyone needs to go very far to find out how critical some of the council has been.”

Wiza said that he feels skills and qualifications should be the leading factor in selecting commission members, rather than gender, race, or religion.

City Council President Meleesa Johnson has pushed for more diverse city staff and noted in a recent social media post that “diversity,” doesn’t exclude white males.

“I have repeatedly and publicly called for greater diversity on the PFC, a commission that has historically been all white and all male. However, a call for greater diversity is not a call for the exclusion of ‘white middle-aged males.’ Anyone who purposely and willfully conflates my call for diversity with the exclusion of anyone group is either ignorant of what diversity means or is intent on dividing. Either is shameful,” Johnson said.

TagsLocal governmentMike WizaPFC resignationRon CarlsonStevens Point Police and Fire Commission
Previous Article

Tuesdays with the Mayor: A weekly update ...

Next Article

Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation awards five scholarships

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • News

    County-City building remodel works

    September 22, 2017
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • NewsTop Feature

    City wants to meet with county on ambulance issue

    September 22, 2017
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • News

    County investigates claims of ethics violation

    November 17, 2017
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Top Stories

    City Gives Initial Nod to Downtown Warming Center

    December 8, 2015
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Videozhidefeatured

    Mayor’s Minute: Wiza Discusses Development at Former Copps Site

    December 8, 2015
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS
  • Top Stories

    The Honeymoon is Over: Mayor, Council Divided Over Employment Protections

    December 18, 2015
    By STEVENS POINT NEWS

Leave a reply Cancel reply

High School Sports

Go to High School Sports

Free SP Newsletter

  • Sports

  • Commentary

  • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters logo

    Rafters Weekend Roundup: Team finishes regular season, starts postseason

    By Jacob Heid
    August 15, 2022
  • Kristin Britz

    Kage retires, Britz joins WIAA staff

    By Kris Leonhardt
    August 13, 2022
  • Roisin Willis

    Former SPASH track star Willis presented with proclamation

    By Kris Leonhardt
    August 11, 2022
  • Rafters logo

    Rafters Weekend Roundup: Rapids splits the weekend with two wins

    By Kris Leonhardt
    August 10, 2022
  • Matt Glodowski

    Stevens Point Gazette Senior Spotlight: Matt Glodowski – Amherst

    By Kris Leonhardt
    August 9, 2022
  • Ice fishing contest Reels in $1,500 for Portage County Literacy Council

    By Taylor Hale
    March 17, 2022
  • Kemmeter Column: County celebrates year after quarantine

    By Taylor Hale
    July 12, 2021
  • Isherwood Column: Great engineering projects two

    By Taylor Hale
    July 11, 2021
  • Shoes News Graphic

    Show Column: Odd Jobs

    By Taylor Hale
    July 9, 2021
  • Looking ahead with Larry: July 2

    By Taylor Hale
    July 5, 2021

About Us


The Portage County Gazette is published every Friday by Multi Media Channels. It is locally-owned, locally-operated and locally-written. Subscriptions are $59 annually, delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.


To subscribe, go www.shopmmclocal.com/product/portage-county-gazette or call 715-258-4360

  • 2619 Post Road, Stevens Point, WI 54481
  • (715) 343-8045
  • News editor: [email protected]
Copyright © 2022 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×