Wausau, WI
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Wausau Police
515 Grand Avenue
Wausau, WI 54403
P: 715-261-7800
F: 715-261-7888
Non-Emergency Dispatch
715-261-7795
Emergency: Dial 9-1-1
Contacting Us
The Wausau Police Department is located within the Wausau Public Safety Building at:
515 Grand Avenue | Wausau WI 54403
Phone: 715-261-7800
Fax: 715-261-7888
Emergency Dial 911
We welcome your input to enable us to better serve you and the community.
We encourage you to use the Customer Survey to tell us how your experience with our Officer was.
Quick Links
Lost and Found Items
On occasion people will recover lost items such as keys, wallets and articles of clothing. Citizens who find items that do not belong to them can drop off these items at the Wausau Police Department located at 515 Grand Avenue.
If you have lost an item you may contact our department during regular business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. at 715-261-7800. Citizens may be required to present identification and/or other information to identify the property upon pick-up.
Record Requests
In compliance with Wisconsin Statute 19.34, the City of Wausau Police Department hereby established the following procedures as they apply to Public Records in its custody: Records Request Notice
Accident Reports
Accident/Crash reports are available through CARFAX at no charge. You will need: Last Name, Crash Report Number, & Date of Crash. The website is http://www.crashdocs.org/
If you prefer, you can still get a copy of the crash report from the Wausau PD. They are available by mail, email, fax or in person.
Please click on the link to the request form https://forms.co.marathon.wi.us/forms/WPDRecordRequest
Lastly, you may also obtain the accident/crash report directly from the Department of Transportation (DOT) website: https://app.wi.gov/crashreports
Incident Reports
Incident Reports are police reports other than accident/traffic crash reports, from traffic warnings to formal investigative reports. All incident reports are reviewed prior to being released. The review process includes redacting (blacking out) confidential information. The requestor will be notified of any redactions or denials. This process takes time; depending on the requested records, this may take up to two weeks, or in some cases, longer.
To request an incident report, please make your request through our Public Record Requests portal. Please state what report you are looking for by including: incident date, address, parties involved & nature of call. After your request submission, please follow these steps.
1. Check Your Email You will receive an email from the City of Wausau, WI Public Records containing your record request number.
2. Create an Account To streamline the process, please create an account in our Public Records Portal (https://cityofwausauwi.nextrequest.com/). This will allow you to easily log in and view your documents once they are released.
3. Communication Use your Next Request account to communicate with us directly through the Request Portal.
For additional help, please call us at 715-261-7800 and select option #2 for the Records Department.
In-House Record Checks
The in-house record check will list citations and arrests only, or all Wausau police contacts, your choice. Print the PDF file link In-House Record Check and follow the instructions. The in-house record check will be emailed back to you. If you are requesting information on someone other than yourself, you will need to provide a written consent authorizing the Wausau Police Department to release their information to you: Authorization Form.
The state of WI Criminal Information Bureau (CIB) profides a state criminal history check. The link to their website is: https://recordcheck.doj.wi.gov
The FBI’s Identity History Summary check can be found at this website address:
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
Self Report Incident Form
To report an incident via the website, please fill in the following form and submit to us.
A voluntary report form is only for non-felony crimes, such as theft or criminal damage to property, where the damage or theft is less than $2500, and no building was entered to commit that theft/damage AND there is NO suspect information. The crime must have occurred within the City Limits of Wausau.
If your case doesn’t meet these requirements, please call 261-7795 to have an Officer respond to take your report.
Self Report Accident Form
Motor Vehicle Accident Self-Report
DO NOT COMPLETE this Driver Report of Accident if a law enforcement officer completed a Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Accident Report.
COMPLETE this Wisconsin Driver Report of Accident if:
- There was $1000 or more in damage to any one person's property
- Anyone was injured
- There was $200 or more damage to government property, other than vehicles.
Complaints Against Police Personnel
Dear Citizen,
Below contains the information pertaining to accepting, processing and investigating complaints concerning allegations of employee misconduct. The complaint procedures adopted by the Wausau Police Department ensure that fair and proper action is taken when an employee is accused of misconduct.
Establishment of procedures for investigating complaints and allegations of employee misconduct is crucial to demonstrate and protect the Wausau Police Department's integrity. The Wausau Police Department will accept and investigate, fairly and impartially, all complaints of employee conduct to determine the validity of all allegations.
Sincerely,
Matthew Barnes, Chief of Police
WAUSAU POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The citizens of Wausau, and the State of Wisconsin, have granted certain responsibilities and authority to the Wausau Police Department. The department recognizes its responsibility to maintain the public confidence and trust, and the need to ensure integrity and accountability both by the agency and by the employee. As we recognize the right of all citizens, citizens should recognize that department employees must be free to exercise thier best judgement in taking necessary and reasonable action in the performance of their duties without fear of reprisal. Specific complaint procedures have been adopted by the Wausau Police Department to ensure that fair and proper action is taken when an employee is accused of misconduct. This also protects the employees from unwarranted or false accusations. Additionally, this system provides a means of identifying and correcting deficiencies in policies, procedures, supervision, or training.
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
Who May Make Complaint?
Any person may make a complaint. Normally, the person most directly affected by the alleged conduct should be the person to complain. An example of this is that a complaint of rudeness to a driver should be made by the driver, not a passenger in the vehicle. Exceptions to this would include a parent filing a complaint for a minor child or other similar situations.
In What Form Should A Complaint Be Made?
Complaints may be made in person, in writing, by telephone, or the internet. Complaints should concisely and specifically describe the conduct of the employee that was alleged to be improper. Rather than say the employee was rude, explain how the employee was rude by providing the specific words or phrases, describing the employee's tone of voice, or citing particular acts of rudeness. Identify the employee to the best of your ability. This can be accomplished by providing the employee's name, badge number, patrol vehicle number or license plate number, and the date, time, and location of the incident. Department employees are required by policy to properly identify themselves upon request. If available, include the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all witnesses.
To Whom Should The Complaint Be Submitted?
Citizens appearing in person, or calling by telephone will be referred to a supervisor. If no supervisor is available, the citizen may leave thier name and telephone number and a supervisor will re-contact them as soon as possible. The supervisor will record or assist the citizen in recording pertinent information concerning the complaint. A citizen may also file a complaint by completing the department's Complaint Against Police Personnel form and sending it through the mail. All complaints will be received courteously and handled promptly.
When May Complaints Be Made?
Complaints may be made anytime. Complaints should be made within a reasonable time after the alleged misconduct occurred to help ensure evidence is still available and recollections of the incident are fresh.
What Things Can Be Complained About?
The focus of department procedures is on alleged misconduct by a department employee. This encompasses violations of the laws or department rules and regulations. A disagreement with a policy or a law or the application of a policy or law is not considered a "complaint", and will normally be referred to the commander most directly involved with the policy or law in question.
How Does Making A Complaint Affect Present Or Future Charges Against Me?
Any charges or legal issues must be decided by the appropriate court. The investigation of your complaint will focus on the conduct of the employee, not the charges against you. Therefore, the charges against you are a separate issue which you will have to resolve in court. Information may be provided to you related to the court process, but details of the case will not be discussed. Information learned during the investigation of the complaint may be used during your criminal proceedings. Employees are prohibited from retaliating against you, either in the present case or in the future, for lodging a complaint against them.
Can I Make An Anonymous Complaint?
Anonymous complaints are investigated; however, investigations are less likely to reveal all the facts surrounding an alleged incident when the investigator is deprived of the opportunity to contact the complainant. Also, an anonymous complainant can not be made aware of the results of the investigation. For these reasons we strongly encourage persons having legitimate concerns to sign the complaint form and fully cooperate with the investigating supervisor.
INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS
Other than those complaints which are immediately resolved, every complaint of misconduct by an employee will be investigated.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the department will acknowledge the receipt through communication with the complainant. The department may conduct a preliminary inquiry by telephone, by mail, or in person to clarify specific issues. The complaint form contains an affirmation to the truth of the information provided and a cautionary statement regarding false allegations. This statement is not intended to dissuade persons from lodging legitimate, factual complaints, but is intended to forewarn persons from making false or malicious complaints that officers and/or the department do have legal recourse for such action.
Upon receipt of a signed complaint form, the department will assign the case for investigation. Investigators will attempt to contact the complainant, the accused employee, and witnesses; examine physical evidence; review reports and records; and thoroughly document the facts surrounding the incident.
The Chief of Police will render a finding in each case.
There are five possible findings:
Unfounded - When the investigation discloses that the alleged acts did not occur or did not involve department members. Complaints that are determined to be frivolous will fall within the classification of unfounded.
Exonerated - When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.
Not Sustained - When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the member.
Sustained - When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct.
Policy Failure - When the investigation discloses the allegations are true; however, the employee was acting in accordance with established department policy.
You will be notified of the finding in writing at the conclusion of the investigation. When a finding of "Sustained" is determined, corrective action will be taken. The corrective action may include counseling, training, and action up to and including termination.
WITHDRAWING A COMPLAINT
Any person may voluntarily withdraw a complaint at any point during the investigative process. Complaint withdrawal is appropriate in situations where additional information is learned which cause the complainant to realize the department employee's actions were proper. The department may, however, elect to continue the investigation if circumstances warrant.
WHAT IF I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE HANDLING OF MY COMPLAINT?
If, at the conclusion of the investigation, you are not satisfied with the manner in which the Chief of Police has dealt with your complaint you may address the complaint to the Wausau Police & Fire Commission or to the Mayor's Office.
QUESTIONS
Questions about complaint procedures should be directed to:
Wausau Police Department 515 Grand Avenue Wausau WI 54403 715-261-7800 Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.