Plover welcomes new police officer

By Brandi Makuski

Residents will see a new face patrolling the streets of Plover.

Amber Hansen, 22, was sworn into her role by Plover Police Chief Ryan Fox on June 26.

Hansen is a native of Potter, a small rural community located in Calumet Co. in northeastern Wisconsin. She came to the community to attend UW-Stevens Point to study conservation law enforcement but soon discovered her passion for law enforcement in general.

While taking police science classes at Mid-State, she met Plover Officer Blake Hansen (no relation).

“The way he spoke of this department, and how he loves it…I wanted to be part of something that felt like a family, that the community took care of you,” she said. “And I thought, what better way as a first, or maybe last, job, is to start in a community that will always support you.”

PPD has been working to fill a vacancy in the department, created by a retirement, for months. Fox said fewer applicants for law enforcement jobs have created tremendous challenges when it comes to hiring new police officers.

“Other agencies are lowering the bar for hiring standards, but we’re raising the bar,” Fox said. “It takes longer to find quality candidates but it’s worth it.”

Fox said that the village of Plover has a “job-first” mentality that takes the emotion out of most decisions, which is why its municipal agencies boast a very low employee turnover.

“Our first thought is, ‘What would the citizens think of this?’ We just take the emotion out of it. And I think any department head would agree with that. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else except Plover,” he said.

Hansen, who enjoys hunting, fishing, and gardening in her spare time, said she grew fond of the community while in college.

“I really came to love this community and what it had to offer. And I wanted to stay in this community — and it just happens that I was able to do what I’ve dreamed of doing, and that was being a police officer in a community that supports you.”