When Fond du Lac was incorporated as a village in 1847 two constables were elected each year.
When the city charter was obtained in 1852 city marshals were appointed each year. In 1866 the legislature abolished the office of city marshal, and the police force came into existence. Each year from 1866 to 1885 the Common Council elected the police chief and policemen. In 1885 the law was changed by the creation of a Police and Fire Commission to manage these departments.
In 1866 the first jail and police barn were built. Police headquarters were in the council room. In 1890 the jail and police barn were remodeled, and headquarters were moved into that building. This station was abandoned in 1921 and a store building was remodeled, and headquarters were moved into that location. In 1954 the present City-County Safety Building was built to house both city and county police agencies at 180 S. Macy Street. In October of 2001, the Police Department relocated to the former Alliant Energy Building at 126 N. Main Street.
The Department now consists of 79 sworn officers, including the chief, and 10 civilian employees. Our Department is committed to a culture of understanding, compassion, and professionalism. We place a tremendous value on community and neighborhood engagement with the understanding that public safety is a shared responsibility and that police cannot do it alone. We work collectively to build trust and break down barriers between police and our community for a stronger and safer community for ALL people. We believe that problem solving, customer service, and community partnerships is the foundation to be able to deliver a level of service that exceeds the community’s expectations.
City Marshalls (1852-1866) |
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1852 C.N. Snell 1853 F.P. Homiston 1854 John Case 1855 I.W. Bowen 1856 Daniel Banks 1857-1858 Charles Arlin 1859 E.S. Hammond 1860 B.F. Midgjey 1861 Charles Van Norder 1862-1863 John Dobyns 1865 Phillip Zipp 1866 Louis Ledoux |
Chiefs of Police (1867 to Present) |
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1867-1868 James T. Conklin 1869 James O’Connel 1870-1871 I.N. Welch 1872-1873 James Swineford 1874 Timothy Hardgrove 1875-1880 G.A. Kretlow 1881-1882 C.F.P. Clough 1883-1884 G.A. Gretlow 1885 (4 months) John Gill 1885 (8 months) Jos. Como 1886-1888 G.A. Kretlow 1889-1891 Barney McDermott 1892 H.W. Eaton 1893 Thos. McGrath 1894-1896 Sealy O’Conor 1897-1898 Thos. McGrath 1899-1900 Simon Schaefer 1901-1922 F.A. Nolan 1922-1944 James J. Silgen, Sr. 1944-1945 Elmer H. Kahn 1945-1946 William Muellner 1946-1963 James D. Cahill 1963-1975 Harold J. Rautenberg 1975-1990 Melvin E. Heller 1990-1999 Daniel Bord 1999-2003 Duane Johnson 2003-2011 J.A. (Tony) Barthuly 2011-2021 William B. Lamb 2021 – Present Aaron T. Goldstein |