The two finalists for Fond du Lac police chief got a chance to introduce themselves to the public last week. Interim police chief Aaron Goldstein and Green Bay police commander Kevin Warych participated in a forum Thursday afternoon at the city county government center. Warych and Goldstein also appeared on AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program. “I’m a 20 year law enforcement veteran, really dedicated to community policing,” Warych told WFDL news. Goldstein has worked at the Fond du Lac Police Department for 23 years. “Just being able to get to that highest level in the Department has been truly exciting and humbling with all of the support I have received inside the Department and the community,” Goldstein said. What are the most important qualities of a police chief? Goldstein says it’s being authentic. “You have to be real with people. You have to have caring relationships. I would think you also have to be a person of energy, light up a room and get the best out of people.” Warych says it’s about being genuine. “People see right through people that are fake, Warych said. “You’ll get nothing but the real person that I am. The person that cares, the person that is in the community, giving the community a voice.” With all of the negative publicity surrounding law enforcement over the past year Warych you need to find a balance to find the community’s trust and respect. “When you can find that balance where you’ve got the community’s trust and respect, the inward support of the great members of the Department, great things happen. That’s going to be tested. That’s tested every single day,” Warych said. Goldstein says he’s been using social media to tell the story of the Fond du Lac Police Department. “It’s so important to get our story out there. The community is seeing it and the support is there,” Goldstein said. “Through our story you’ll also be able to tell the good and the bad. That’s allowed us to be more transparent.” Police and Fire Commission member Marty Ryan says he hopes a decision on hiring a new chief can be made in the next few weeks.
