Finalists narrowed for next police chief

STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Police and Fire Commission have announced four candidates that will move forward in the hiring process for the next chief of police. The next chief of police will take over from Chief Kussow, a 27-year veteran of the Stevens Point Police Department, who is set to retire in Jan. Chief Kussow has held the position since May of 2022.
The four final candidates are Joseph Johnson, Lieutenant of the Stevens Point Police Department, Dana Williams, Assistant Chief of the Stevens Point Police Department, Ryan La Broscian, Captain of the Baraboo Police Department, and Edward Orgon Jr., Police Chief of Lake Hallie Police Department.
The search for the next chief of police began in Aug. with a nationwide search that totaled twenty-five original applicants. Following virtual interviews on Oct. 14, the candidate pool was narrowed down from twenty-five candidates to four.
On Oct. 23, each candidate will meet individually with a law enforcement panel and a community stakeholder panel. Following the in-person interviews, the results will be discussed at the Nov. 6 Police and Fire Commission meeting. Finalists will have an in-person interview in front of the commissioners. The Police and Fire Commission expect to announce the new Stevens Point Chief of Police in late November to early December.