Pacelli grad takes on new leadership role at SPPD

By Brandi Makuski

Andrew Poeschel was just 21 when he was hired at the Stevens Point Police Department.

The nervous Poeschel paced in the hallway outside of the police and fire commission meeting in September 2013, remarking, “This is all I ever wanted to do. Stevens Point is my hometown.”

Poeschel, who studied criminal justice at Mid-State, and previously worked part-time at the Waupaca Co. Jail, began his SPPD career under former Chief Kevin Ruder. Today, he works under Chief Martin Skibba, and on Monday was promoted to the role of sergeant.

He was sworn in on Dec. 9 before a packed house including the Portage Co. SWAT team, other officers, and his family.

“I was a baby when I started,” Poeschel said on Monday. “I’m excited about this. I’ve always been pretty involved with the department, and this is just another way to continue with that, help the department be a better place and do my part.”

Among his new duties is oversight of the patrol division in the absence of lieutenants, and participating with officer evaluations.

Poeschel fills the role left vacant when Officer Justin Klein was transferred to SPPD’s narcotics bureau, becoming the city’s second drug officer. The department also hired Trevor Zingler in October, growing the force by one position for the first time in over a decade.