KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Hundreds of people showed their support for police and sheriff’s deputies at a ceremony Friday afternoon.
Officers from as far north as Shawano were shown appreciation for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.
The president of Keller said this all started as a way to “pay it forward.” — who better to pay it forward to than local law enforcement agencies?
Company officials said they wanted to change negative feelings some may have about police officers.
“Thinking about, you know, would I want my son or daughter to be a policeman? And, no I wouldn’t, the way things are today,” said Keller president Wayne Stellmacher. “So, I thought we should reach out as individuals, and community leaders and businesses to help them.”
Special guest Attorney General Brad Schimel, who is up for re-election in November, said he sees a lack of appreciation for law enforcement.
“A vocation has chosen them, and they’re doing that every day; they’re doing the best they can,” Schimel said. “Their passion is to keep their community safe, and they don’t expect anything like this.”
One by one, over 300 people shook the hands of the men and women in blue all to say, “Thank you.”
“It’s not something we’re used to,” said Green Bay Police Department chief of staff Captain Jeremy Muraski. “Unfortunately, you know, police don’t always get widespread support like that, or at least maybe we don’t necessarily see it; it might be there, but we don’t necessarily experience it in that real of a manner, so it’s just a really neat experience for us.”
Last year, seven departments were represented at the ceremony. This year 12 were honored from Green Bay to Appleton, all the way down to Sun Prairie.
Each department also got a check from Keller for $2,500.
Keller company officials said their $30,000 donation helps pay for police agencies’ community initiatives.
