November 8, 2019 at 4:52 p.m.
New RPD officer ready to hit the streets
Decker graduated from NTC academy in December 2017
New RPD officer ready to hit the streets
Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, the Commission spent about 10 minutes reviewing her record as a probationary officer and getting input from RPD chief Lloyd Gauthier. The committee then voted to take Decker off probation.
"It's a special day for Claire, and it is a special day for the Rhinelander Police Department. I have a hand in the hiring of everyone in the department, and I don't think we have ever had a formal swearing-in ceremony for a first-time officer," McEldowney said. "We are very proud that we have courageous police officers who have dedicated themselves to protect and to serve and that have joined such a noble profession, and who literally put their lives on the line so that we can sleep well at night."
McEldowney said police officers serve as role models for not only the youth of the community but the adults as well.
"The role models that the police department provides for us are such that we can be really proud of, and we're hopeful that police officers begin to be our friends," he said. "And because of that stewardship, the children of our community will maybe see that and someday want to be police officers themselves."
Decker said she is excited to officially join the RPD.
"I knew what they wanted, and when I talked to Lloyd, I said this is where I want to work," she said.
Gauthier was effusive in welcoming his newest officer to the department.
"If there was one word I would use to describe Claire, it would be perseverance," Gauthier said. "She persevered for a long time to be here today. Every day at work, she put her best foot forward, she had a great attitude and wanted to learn. And that is why she is where she is today."
Decker joined the department February 22, 2018 after graduating from the Northcentral Technical College criminal justice studies program in December 2017. She earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 2017 from UW-Oshkosh.
She is a graduate of Northland Pines High School.
Gauthier said the RPD recently hired two officers who will be on probation until November 2020 and just began their field training programs. When that process is complete, the department will be at its full authorized compliment of 17 sworn officers.
In his 2020 budget presentation to city leaders Monday, Gauthier noted that the 17 is the same number of sworn officers Rhinelander had in 1969.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at jamie@rivernews online.com.
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