Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson will retire after more than 44 years in law enforcement
GRAND CHUTE — Police Chief Greg Peterson will retire later this year after 15 years as chief and more than 44 years in law enforcement.
The Police and Fire Commission will begin the recruitment process for a new police chief and expects to announce a successor by late summer or early fall. Peterson will remain in his role until the selection process is done.
Peterson has served as police chief since 2010.
"My tenure as chief has been the pinnacle of a career that has spanned more than 44 years, and my decision to leave the position has been extremely difficult to make," Peterson said, adding that it has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Grand Chute Police Department.
Peterson's law enforcement career began in 1980, when he joined the Appleton Police Department as a patrol officer. He had a 29½-year career with Appleton, including 20 months as the interim Grand Chute police chief when the two communities explored the feasibility of merging their police departments.
The merger didn't happen, but Peterson said the experience inspired him to apply for Grand Chute police chief in 2010.
Under Peterson's leadership, the police department added its first police dog unit in 2011 and its second one in 2019. The department was accredited by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group in 2014 and has maintained that status ever since.
In addition, the department has introduced its Community Hotel Intervention Program, a public health vending machine and overdose action kits to combat the fentanyl crisis, an automated license plate recognition system, and a drone-as-a-first-responder program.
Tom Dreier, secretary of the Police and Fire Commission, said Peterson has worked tirelessly to advance the development of the police department.
"His servant leadership and expertise extends to the overall effectiveness of the department," Dreier said. "The Town of Grand Chute is a better, safer community due to Chief Greg Peterson and the entire Police Department."
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DukeBehnke.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson will retire later this year
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