Strasser Honored as Auxiliary Office of the Year

By Brandi Makuski

Stockton resident Fred Strasser has been named the Stevens Point Police Department’s Auxiliary Officer of the Year.

Strasser, 73, joined the all-volunteer unit last September. The trained 18-member unit assists sworn officers with traffic and crowd control at public events, and maintains a visible law enforcement presence at local sporting and other large-scale events.

Strasser was presented with a plaque and certificate of appreciation at the 2017 Coin Recognition Dinner, which the dept. held on Dec. 9 in a banquet room at Rookies Sports Bar.

“They really provide a valuable public service,” said Police Chief Martin Skibba. “They are our eyes and ears when we might be otherwise engaged investigating criminal activity.”

Police say over the course of 2017, Strasser clocked more than 300 hours of volunteer time through Dec. 4 – more than any other auxiliary officer in the unit.

“A lot of the auxiliary members volunteer because they either are interested in the law enforcement profession, or they just want to give something back to the community,” said Operations Sgt. Robert Kussow, adding the dept. has already hired a number of officers who started out as members of the auxiliary.

Strasser said he’s not looking for a second career, but joined because he recently retired after 38 years with Verso Corporation.

“I wanted to help the community, and it gives me something to do,” he said.

Strasser said the best part of his job in the unit is spending time with kids.

“We see a lot of kids at Bukotl Park, or the [downtown] parade, stuff like that,” he said. “I like to be kind to kids, and give them a little treat like a badge or a pencil and see them smile.”