Schultz, Willems promoted to sergeant positions with HPD

• Patrol Sgt. Peter Schultz

Newly promoted Patrol Sgt. Peter Schultz recites the oath of office administered by Municipal Judge Susan Gherty, left. Watching the Jan. 28 ceremony, from left, are members of Schultz’s family - daughter Serena, wife Holly, and daughters Julia and Arianna.
• Det. Sgt. Geoffry Willems

Det. Sgt. Geoffrey Willems recites the oath of office for his new position with the Hudson Police Department at the start of Monday night’s City Council meeting. Municipal Judge Susan Gherty, left, administered the oath. Willems’ wife, Holly, and son, Logan, watched.

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Peter Schultz and Geoffrey Willems were promoted to sergeant positions with the Hudson Police Department at the start of the City Council meeting on Jan. 28.

Police Chief Marty Jensen asked to create two new sergeant positions in lieu of filling the vacancy on the roster that occurred with former Lt. Eric Atkinson left last September to job of police chief for Menomonie.

HPD currently has six supervisory positions - Chief Jensen and five sergeants.

Jensen had to cut his 2013 budget by $56,000 and find an additional $40,000 for gasoline for squad cars. The belt-tightening was necessary to live within the state imposed levy cap that allowed the city just a $43,000 increase in tax revenue.

With increases in employee pay, health insurance and other expenses, each city department was asked to reduce its spending this year.

Schultz, a 22-year veteran of the Hudson Police Department, currently serves as the city's police-school liaison officer. Jensen said he would remain in that role until the end of the school year, and then serve as a patrol sergeant.

Willems has been with the Hudson Police Department for six years and served with the North Hudson Police Department for five years prior to that.

He has been a detective and will serve as a detective sergeant in his new role.

Willems has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UW-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in police leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Under its new structure, the Hudson Police Department has a chief and five sergeants. Jensen said the arrangement gives the department flexibility to get additional officers on the street quickly in an emergency.

Patrol Sgt. Glen Hartman, the sergeant with the most seniority, will be second in command.

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