APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – One of Appleton Police’s longest-tenured officers is calling it a career.
Assistant Chief Todd Olm plans to retire October 4 after 24 years with the department.
When reflecting on the best part of his 30 years in the field, Olm says it’s not limited to assisting the general public.
“I’ve been able to help people within the organization. That opportunity to mentor and watch people develop and achieve their dreams was kind of unexpected when I entered this career.”
Olm reflects on the biggest change he’s seen during his three decades in law enforcement.
“The changing reflection nationally of law enforcement, what we do and don’t do, and some of our failures, and some of the things we do real well.”
The assistant chief believes his generation is the first since those who policed in the 1960’s to see such a change.
Olm says he’s especially proud of his work in some of the family-oriented aspects of policing.
“When I was a school resource officer, at that time I was also simultaneously doing a lot of work with our domestic abuse program.”
The assistant chief also mentions his work with the department’s Community Resource Unit, when it was launched in 2003.
“It focuses a lot on human trafficking but also a lot on street level crimes, help clean up neighborhoods and turn the bad parts of the neighborhoods back over to the good neighbors that surround those areas.”
Olm was promoted to assistant chief in 2012.
Prior to that, he served in a variety of capacities including: Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Support Services, Operations District Captain, Captain of the Investigative Services Unit, Lieutenant of the Community Resources Unit, Operations Lieutenant, Police School Liaison Officer, and Patrol Officer.
Before joining the Appleton Police Department, Olm worked as a Deputy Sheriff in Marathon County and as a Youth Worker with Marathon County Juvenile Intake.
Olm says he plans to take a few months off this fall to enjoy hunting and fishing before pursuing the next chapter in his career, possibly a private-sector position in leadership development or organizational development.
