Fox Valley Metro Police Department. PC: Fox 11 Online
KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Officers of the Fox Valley Metropolitan Police Department are reacting to the village of Kimberly considering ending its decades-long partnership with the agency.
The Fox Valley Metro Police Department serves the villages of Kimberly and Little Chute.
Kimberly’s proposal, based on projected annual savings of roughly $250,000, would shift police services to the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office.
FVMPD officers say they were blindsided by the news.
“We were shocked and disappointed,” said Randy Lefeber, president of the Fox Valley Metropolitan Professional Police Association (FVMPPA). “If Kimberly severs ties with our agency, dedicated officers will lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and residents will lose the ability to directly shape the police services in their own community.”
The Fox Valley Metropolitan Police Department has served Kimberly for over 30 years. According to agency data, the FVMPD responds to nearly 6,000 calls for service annually in Kimberly, including more than 450 criminal investigations.
“Every day, our officers show their deep commitment to the people of Kimberly,” Lefeber said. “From answering calls for help, to running specialized programs like school resource officers and the K-9 unit, to engaging in meaningful community outreach, we’ve worked tirelessly to meet the unique needs of the community. We are proud of our service—and we hope to continue it.”
Officers are encouraging community members to attend public listening sessions scheduled for Monday, June 16, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Evergreen Room of the Municipal Complex, located at 515 W. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly. The department urges residents to participate, ask questions, and make their voices heard.
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