Gorman has more than three decades in law enforcement
By Holly Neumann
The Manawa City Council has approved the retirement notice of Police Chief James Gorman.
His last day is May 1. The council approved the notice March 14.
The council also discussed the future direction of the Manawa Police Department.
Upon the advice of legal counsel, the city will take its time in hiring a new police chief and will not appoint a temporary one.
The council will also look at rewriting the position’s job description and hire an outside firm to do the research for the hiring process.
Detective Sgt. Katie Boerst and Officer Shannon Wesoloski will be asked for their input on the matter.
Mayor Mike Frazier said he spoke to Waupaca County Sheriff Tim Wilz about the matter.
“In communicating with Sheriff Wilz, he told me that when we get short, be sure to let him know and he will get someone from the county department in the area,” Frazier said.
Once Gorman officially retires, the city should change all the locks on City Hall, change all computer passwords and, as a matter of standard procedure, have Gorman return all equipment belonging to the city, Frazier said.
Jim Roenz, head of the council’s Protection and Welfare Committee, wished Gorman well in his retirement and moving forward.
“Chief Jim Gorman has worked hard to help our community develop and maintain a professional police force in these challenging times,” he said. “His expertise and experience will be difficult to replace. He will be missed.”
“We thank him for his years of service and we wish him well in retirement,” Frazier said.
Gorman became Manawa’s police chief in January 2016.
Previously, he served with the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, beginning in 1993, where he had been a dispatcher, corrections officer, patrol deputy, technical crash investigator, SWAT team member, marksman and detective sergeant.
Gorman began his career in law enforcement with the village of Fremont police, where he worked from 1986 to 1994.
Other business
In other business, the council discussed the addition of a community dog park. The council looked at several different areas for the location of the park, keeping in mind that it would not be placed near a residential area.
Other than the upfront cost of getting the dog park started, the upkeep will be minimal.
Public Works Director Josh Smith will look into more information on the matter, including possible grant money.
The council also approved the Manawa Rural Fire Department cage add-on in the basement of City Hall.
Smith also asked the council for a telephone for each member of the Public Works Department.
The city is looking into the possibility of starting an area for residents to dispose of yard waste, including leaves and grass clippings. This would not include brush disposal. Further discussion is still needed on the matter.