Wausau Police Department is set to expand its force to help the growing homeless population

WAUSAU, Wis. (WXCO) – Two new officers will be hired to help the unhoused and control the crime in the city caused from them.

The Wausau Police Department will be expanding its staff to help address homelessness in the area.

With a 9 to 2 vote yesterday the city will fund the addition of two new officers. These two positions will be active for the final six months of this year and all of next year.

Some had questioned why the new positions would be necessary, since the department has expanded its staff recently. They responded saying two new officers are needed right now, or there’s going to be irreparable harm. As multiple illegal activities are taking place right outside downtown Wausau buildings, potentially harming the quality of life in the city for residents.

Others worried the positions would end up contributing to criminalizing homelessness. In response, the argument was having specific officers on hand to monitor these areas of concern without pulling staff away from their regular patrol routes.

Tom Kilian and Gary Gisselman were the only council representatives to vote against the resolution. It was also amended to have the funding come from city reserves instead of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Yesterday marked the final council meeting fully chaired by Mayor Katie Rosenberg. Mayor-elect Doug Diny will be installed next Tuesday, April 16th.