By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
The next Village of Shorewood police chief could be Burlington’s own.
Outgoing Shorewood Police Chief David Banaszynski confirmed Tuesday morning that a conditional offer had been extended to City of Burlington Police Chief Peter Nimmer.
“Once all medical tests and a contract are worked out, Chief Nimmer will be given a final offer of hire,” Banaszynski said. “No start date has been set until Chief Nimmer successfully completes the conditional offer.”
City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller said Nimmer would be missed if he left.
“I have not received a letter of resignation from him,” Miller said. “If and when I get it, I will accept it reluctantly, and make a decision at that point in time.”
Banaszynski said that he has known Nimmer for a number of years.
“He is an intelligent man with integrity, and will make a very good police chief for the Village of Shorewood,” said Banaszynski, who added that he was not part of the hiring process.
Nimmer confirmed the conditional offer Tuesday, but also wanted to let the process play out before making any official comments.
“It’s really a joy to work here,” Nimmer said. “I’ve enjoyed serving as the chief of police for the City of Burlington.”
Miller said that Nimmer had come into Burlington and made positive changes.
“He came in, took the department, and turned it into one of the top-notch departments in the state, as far as I’m concerned,” Miller said.
He also felt that Nimmer had the respect of his peers in the department.
“The troops respect him, staff respect him, the citizens of Burlington obviously respect him,” said Miller, adding the Nimmer had an ability to “grasp a situation and respond accordingly.”
The position is not the first that Nimmer’s name has been attached to in his time in Burlington. He also applied for the Chief of Police position in Brown Deer last year – where he had been assistant chief before coming to Burlington.
The position was eventually filled by Michael Kass. Nimmer had also considered taking the head position in Whitefish Bay in 2012.
Nimmer had faced some criticism in the aftermath of the Whitefish Bay job search, as the new contract with the city did not require him to live within the city or 20 miles of it.
The new job in Shorewood would place him within 15 miles of Menomonee Falls – where he currently resides.
Nimmer was hired by the city in the winter of 2010. Since arriving, he worked to increase transparency and professionalism within the police department. He also worked to promote a handful of new sergeants and hired a number of new officers as retirements hit the department.
He also pushed through a digital upgrade of the electronic communications system at the police station.
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Adios.
LOL
The City has proven contracts or conditional contracts don’t matter. If someone wants to leave Burlington will let them and even take extra money with them.
Curious to know why Mr. Mayor states that Nimmer came in and turned the BPD into one of the top-notch departments in the state. If that were the case, why isn’t Burlington’s department ranked in the top 50 safest Wisconsin cities?
And how disgraceful that Burlington’s PD was one of the few SW Wisconsin cities not represented in Kiel for the funeral of the 21-year-old State Trooper murdered in the line of duty. If he didn’t want to send a squad car and pay an officer to attend, then why didn’t he go himself? He has a City-owned vehicle and is 40-50 miles closer to Kiel than Burlington is. And it was on a Sunday, so he was clearly off work.
And no, Mr. Mayor, the troops do NOT respect him. Nor do they respect an administration that makes contracts worthless pieces of paper.
Yes the troops do respect him. There was one officer were couldn’t tolerate the change and improvements in the department, so he chose to retire. And believe me it was no great loss when he left.