Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano’s newest police officer will be the first Native American member of the force in more than 10 years.
Antonio Escalante, who joins the department Monday, has been with the Menominee Tribal Police Department for more than 17 years, most recently as a detective in the investigations bureau. Prior to that, he was interim police chief until the recent election of Mark Waukau.
Escalante has an associate’s degree from ITT in Green Bay and is taking classes for his bachelor of arts degree at the College of Menominee Nation. He is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He is married and has several children.
Police Chief Mark Kohl said he has been looking for an opportunity to add Native American officers.
“It’s important to ensure the our workforce, our police officers represent the community in which we serve,” he said. “Currently, the U.S. census indicates Shawano has a Native American population between 10-12 percent.”
Kohl said that percentage doesn’t take into account those who work in and visit the city.
“It was my desire to hire more qualified minority candidates to better serve our community,” Kohl said. “Increasing collaborative partnerships with those that reside, work and play in our community can only enhance our efforts to reduce crime, and make a positive impact on our quality of life.”
Kohl said the department’s last Native American officer was Gary Burr, who retired in 2002.
Escalante will first go through a field training program, which will last a minimum of 12 weeks. His swearing-in date is not yet set.
The department has two more vacancies to fill over the next few months.
Sheriff Adam Bieber last week announced that Shawano Police Officer Kurt Kitzman will be joining the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department on April 2. Kohl said Kitzman has not yet turned in his resignation papers.
The Police Department will also move one of its officers into a newly created detective lieutenant position, probably in June, which will create another officer vacancy.
Interviews for the detective lieutenant post are scheduled for May 19 before the police and fire commission.