Waupaca police promote detective
By Angie Landsverk
John Helgeson is now the captain of the Waupaca Police Department.
“I look forward to the challenges, and I appreciate Chief (Brian) Hoelzel and the Police and Fire Commission for the opportunity,” he said.
Helgeson began his new job duties on Monday, Feb. 11.
The commission voted unanimously on Feb. 5, to promote him from detective sergeant to captain.
Commissioner Jim Schulz was absent.
“He’s been exemplary in everything’s he done,” Chairman Bryon Gyldenvand said of Helgeson.
He described him as having some of the same characteristics as the late Fred Rasmussen, who served as Waupaca’s police chief from 1958-1988.
Rasmussen was known for walking throughout the city’s downtown during his tenure.
“We need people who make people feel safe,” Gyldenvand said.
The captain position replaces the department’s former lieutenant position.
Geoff Johnson retired from that position on Jan. 4, after 29 years with the department.
Last fall, Hoelzel requested replacing the lieutenant position with a captain position, and the commission approved it.
The department had the captain position years ago before turning it into the lieutenant position.
The captain’s salary remains the same as it was for the lieutenant position.
Hoelzel said Helgeson’s salary is $74,484.
As captain, Helgeson assists the police chief.
His duties include supervising the liaison officer and two, day-time officers.
His other job duties are field training and coordination of the rewriting of the department’s policies.
“He will be doing all background checks on all new department employees,” Hoelzel said. “If there are internal investigations, he will be responsible for handling them.”
Helgeson was one of two internal candidates for the position.
The other candidate was Sgt. Mario Graceffa.
Hoelzel recommended Helgeson for the promotion.
“John’s got a varied background with law enforcement,” he said.
Helgeson has been with Waupaca’s police department for 23 years.
He was a police liaison officer, patrol officer, patrol sergeant and the detective sergeant before being promoted to captain.
“John has worked all the different jobs within the department,” Hoelzel said. “He’s well rounded. Supervising – he will know what each of the jobs does because he actually did it.”
This is Helgeson’s 26th year in law enforcement.
The Iola native is a graduate of Iola-Scandinavia High School.
Helgeson graduated from Fox Valley Technical College with an associate degree in police science.
He decided to pursue that degree after doing ride-alongs with his older brother, Eric, who worked for the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office.
After graduation, his first job was as an undercover drug agent in Washington County.
He worked there about nine months.
That was followed by two years with the Iola Police Department before joining Waupaca’s department in 1996.
Helgeson and his wife Erin live just outside of Iola.
He is an avid golfer and member of Glacial Woods Country Club. He is also a member of the I-S Community Fitness and Aquatic Center.
Helgeson is ready for his new role in the department.
“I’ve worked well with Brian. I feel we can move this department forward in a new direction,” he said. “I feel my experience and training throughout the years has given me the skills to take over this position.”
Helgeson said his position may possibly concentrate more on drug work and investigations.
“I’ve always concentrated on investigations, but drug work will be a bigger part probably,” he said.
Hoezel said Helgeson will handle major investigations until the vacant detective sergeant position is filled.
That position was to be posted by the end of last week.
“There should be plenty of internal candidates,” he said. “I expect that to be a competitive process. We’re hoping to have that filled in mid-March.”
If that position is also filled from within the department, it will then have another vacancy to fill.