Peshtigo Taps Wojcik for Full Time Police Position

By unanimous vote at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7, Peshtigo City Council approved hiring Alex Wojcik, 20, as the city’s newest full time police officer. He fills a vacancy left by Patrolman Becky Praegitzer.

Before calling for a vote, Mayor Cathi Malke said Wojcik  praised the work he has done as a part-time patrolman for the department, a position he has held for four months, and said he had presented himself very well during the interview process.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, and  I think you are going to be a good team member,” Malke told him.

Immediately after the vote, Police Chief Fred Popp swore Wojcik in with a formal oath of office which included a pledge to live by the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, whether on or off duty.

Wojcik is a 2021 graduate of Wausaukee High School and earned a two-year degree in police work from NWTC-Green Bay. He said becoming a police officer had been his lifelong dream. He is the son of Greg and Sandy Wojcik of Wausaukee, where his mother is president of the school board.

Among those on hand for the swearing-in ceremony and other business of the meeting, in addition to the Mayor and Popp, were Aldermen Debbie Sievert, Allen England, Angel Wink and Katie Berman; Clerk\Treasurer Tammy Kasal; City Attorney David Spangenberg; Public Works Director Matt Decur, Fire Chief Chuck Gardon;  Regional Law Enforcement Chaplain Archer Leupp; several full and part-time Peshtigo Police officers, including Lt. Derek Koronkiewicz and Patrolmen Josh Lindt, Rob Hulce and Adam Hynnek, Wojcik’s field training officer during the four months he has been working for Peshtigo as a part-time officer. Also present was his mother, Sandy Wojcik, who is president of the Wausaukee School Board.

Before the swearing in ceremony, Popp said it spoke well for him that so many of his fellow officers were present, and praised the way Wojcik has handled the job so far, including his response with Koronkiewicz to a fatal accident scene, where he administered first aid until emergency medical response personnel arrived. “I’m proud of Alex,” Popp declared. “He handled himself well at the accident scene and later.”

In accord with usual practice the two responding officers had been counseled by Leupp in de-briefings after the accident.

Wojcik thanked the officers who had helped him as a fledgling police officer, particularly Popp, Koronkiewicz and Hynnek; Fire Chief Chuck Gardon, who he said had known his parents and given him a lot of good advice; Leupp, for the de-briefings after the accident, and his mother. “Mom, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” he added.

Other action items at the brief Council meeting included unanimous approval of the negotiated contract with Teamsters Union Local 662, as discussed in a closed session of the License and Police Committee and some minor updates to the schedule of fines for city ordinance violations. 

Also approved without dissent were committee recommendations to renew the library lease for 2024; spend up to $4,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund for repairs to the Skate Park to be done as soon as possible; and to support applications to Wisconsin Department of Transportation for funding from Transportation Alternatives (TAP) and Local Road Improvement (LRIP) programs for some major improvements to West Park Drive.

Malke thanked Decur for the work he had put into preparing the two applications. The resolution states that West Park Drive, a primary route to the Peshtigo schools, is in desperate need of reconstruction. It lists safety concerns for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, and says due to missing pavement and pot holes pedestrians and bicyclists are not using the roadway, which is along one of the narrowest and busiest roads during the school season. The city would like to install bicycle and pedestrian facilities along west park drive, provide curb and gutter and add lighting, all with an eye to improving safety along the busy route. Numerous previous applications for financial help for West Park Drive reconstruction have been unsuccessful.

The city’s five year street improvement plan, if funding is available, calls for $160,000 of work on Oak Street from Beebe to Stephenson Ave in 2024; $54,000 of improvements to W. Railroad Street from Ellis Ave. to Aubin Street in 2025; $1,220,000 of work on West Park Drive from Emery Ave. to Aubin Street in 2026, $172,000 of work on Stephenson Street from Maple to Pine Streets in 2027, and in 2028 construction of TIF projects in the Industrial Park with a tentative price tag of $2,365,000