Police chief discusses decision to retire

Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl, who will retire in April, said in an interview Tuesday that he is proud to be leaving behind a department that has expanded its mission and outreach to the community.

“It’s not just the same old same way of doing business,” he said. “We’re doing more than just responding to calls for service, but examining the root causes of crimes and community concerns and developing strategies to prevent them in the future.”

Kohl said working with the community and building upon those relationships was a pivotal point in much of the department’s success.

“Our crime prevention programs and community outreach was important to us,” he said.

Kohl, 56, has more than 37 years of law enforcement and law enforcement training experience. He was Shawano police chief from January 2001 to August 2002, before becoming a criminal justice instructor at Fox Valley Technical College. He returned to the position after Ed Whealon retired in April 2014.

Kohl said he began thinking about retirement and discussing it with his family last fall.

“It was time,” he said. “We’ll be ‘empty nesters’ come this spring and believe it’s the right time.”

April 3 will be his last day on the job.

Though not made public until last week when it was confirmed by a Leader reporter, Kohl’s retirement letter to Mayor Jeanne Cronce was dated Jan. 26, one day before the Shawano Common Council approved a settlement closing one of two sex discrimination suits filed against him.

The other is scheduled for a jury trial in September.

Kohl said the timing was coincidental, but the suits were a factor in his decision to retire.

“It did play a part, but the decision to retire was made by my family prior to the resolution of the first lawsuit,” he said. “The decision to retire was entirely and solely initiated by me and there was no implied or direct requests for me to do so.”

City Administrator Brian Knapp said last week that the city still had confidence in Kohl, and has denied the allegations in the lawsuits.

Kohl said he cannot comment on the suits, but they did have an impact personally and professionally.

“When the lawsuits were publicized, perceptions and rumors began to circulate around the department, city and social media,” he said. “Commenting or clarifying could not be done as the legal counsel advised against it as they were pending. Many wanted answers by me, but I was unable to comment.”

Kohl said department morale in light of the suits was also a serious concern.

“When employees read and hear their boss is being sued by two employees of the same department they proudly work for, it will affect morale if those rumors aren’t ended,” he said. “I knew the continual revisiting (of) the lawsuits in the media and community would play a price on employee morale and support of their leader.”

Kohl said he feels the department would have weathered the storm without his retirement.

“I believe we would continue to work professionally meeting the public safety needs of our community if I stayed longer,” he said. “My desire to serve in whatever capacity I can serve would continue to be at 100 percent, no matter what position or career path I’m in.”

Kohl said he hopes to see a continued decrease in crime after he leaves and that community satisfaction with the service provided by the department continues to excel.

“If I had a positive influence on the department, only time will tell,” he said. “Our yearly crime stats continue to impress me and should our community. It’s solely because of the positive efforts and hard work of our employees, team members and family.”

Kohl said he was proud the police and fire commission had recommended him for the job and that he had the full support of then-Mayor Lorna Marquardt.

“I continue to be humbled and equally honored to be leading the best police department in the state of Wisconsin,” he said.

Kohl said his post-retirement plans include spending more time with his family and pursuing other personal interests.