2022 Cadet of the Year - Joseph Nauman
2022 Cadet of the Year, Joseph Nauman, with Mike Hartwell of the West Bend Optimist Club.
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On February 2nd, 2023 the West Bend Optimist Club recognized West Bend Police Cadet, Joseph Nauman as the West Bend Police Cadet of the Year. Joseph was appointed Sergeant for the Cadets in 2022 and volunteered over 85 hours of community service in the year alone.
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2021 Cadet of the Year - DYLAN ESPEN
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On February 3rd, 2022 the West Bend Optimist Club recognized West Bend Police Cadet, Dylan Espen as the West Bend Police Cadet of the Year. Dylan has been part of the West Bend Cadets since October of 2019 and since then, has volunteered nearly 100 hours of community service.
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2020 Explorer / Cadet of the Year - Josh Wolf
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Josh, who joined the Police Explorers in April 2019, is a respectful and hardworking Cadet. Anything that has been asked of him, he has always been there to help and has earned over seventy service hours. He is currently attending the Criminal Justice Program at Moraine Park Technical College
with the goal of eventually becoming a West Bend Police Officer. Josh currently works at the West Bend Police Department as a Community Service Officer. |
2019 Explorer of the Year - Imojyn Miller
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Imojyn has been a Police Explorer since 2017. In 2018-2019 she has volunteered over 170 hours of community service, working parades and other special events for the Police Department. Imojyn is attending UW-Milwaukee majoring in Criminal Justice, she also works as a Community Service Officer for the West Bend Police Department.
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2018 Explorer of the Year - Dan Croft
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Daniel has been a member of the Post since 2015 and is currently a lieutenant, which assists the Post Advisors in the training of the Post Members. Daniel graduated in January 2018 from Slinger High School and plans on pursuing a career in law enforcement. Daniel is currently a Community Service Officer for the West Bend Police Department.
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2017 Explorer of the Year - Matt Spoerl
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2018 is Matt's final year as an Explorer as he will be aging out of the program and will also be graduating from college in spring. Matt's plans are is to continue his career in law enforcement. Matt was also honored as the Explorer of the Year by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Explorer Advisors’ Association.
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2016 Explorer of the Year - Evan Powers
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Evan is in his final year with the West Bend Police Explorers as he will be aging out in 2017. Evan is an outstanding young man who is committed to serving his community. Since joining the Explorer Post, Evan has worked nearly every event for the Police Department. Evan attended Waukesha County Technical College and obtained an Associate Degree in Police Science. Evan’s goal is to work for a police department as a Police Officer and continue to serve the community.
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2015 Explorer of the Year - Aaron Murray
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Aaron has given much to the West Bend Police Explorers in his 3 year tenure. Aaron is one of the most reliable Explorers our post has ever had. There were very few times when he was called upon that he did not come through in exceeding our expectations. Aaron also has several great leadership qualities. Aaron would always be the first to step forward and take charge in a group and lead them to success.
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2014 Explorer of the Year - Timothy Fischer, Jr.
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TJ Fischer joined the West Bend Police Explorer Post in 2011. TJ attended the 2014 National Explorer Conference in Indiana and the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Wisconsin State Law Enforcement Explorer Conference. TJ is attending Marion University working on his Bachelor's Degree. In 2013, TJ was hired by the West Bend Police Department as a Community Service Officer.
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2013 Explorer of the Year - Andrew Martin
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Andrew Martin joined the West Bend Police Explorer Post in 2010. Andrew is currently attending Moraine Park Technical College as he continues to pursue a law enforcement career. Andrew attended the 2010 National Explorer Conference in Atlanta, GA and the 2012 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, CO. Andrew has also attended the 2011 and 2013 Wisconsin Police Explorer Academy at Volk Field, the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Wisconsin State Law Enforcement Explorer Conference as well as many other Explorer Expositions.
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2012 Explorer of the Year - Loren Willis
Loren joined the West Bend Post in October 2010. Loren is also a member of the Young Marines and his leadership skills that he has developed are present at every meeting. Loren has attended the 2011 and 2013 Wisconsin Police Explorer Academy at Volk Field and the 2012 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, CO. Loren left the West Bend Police Explorer Post in the fall of 2013.
2011 Explorer of the Year - Michael Kolbach
Mike joined the West Bend Post in 2008 after being a member in the Ozaukee County Police Explorer Post before it was disbanded. Mike has served as the Supply Sergeant and 1LT and was just appointed as the Captain of the West Bend Post. Mike attended the 2010 National Explorer Conference in Atlanta, GA and the 2012 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, CO. Mike also attended the 2011 Wisconsin Police Explorer Academy at Volk Field. Mike attended Concordia University Wisconsin where he got his Bachelor Degree in Justice and Public Policy. In 2015, Mike was hired by the Hartford Police Department.
2010 Explorer of the Year - Danielle Christl
Danielle joined the WBPD Explorer Post in October 2007 and held several leadership positions while she was in the post. In 2009 and 2011, Danielle attended the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Explorer Academy and in 2010 and 2012, Danielle attended the National Explorer Conference. Danielle is currently attending UW Oshkosh after starting her college education at UW Washington County in West Bend.
2009 Explorer of the Year - Nicholas Benzing
In his first two years as a member, Nick had over 150 hours of community service. Nick is currently attending Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton where he is working on his two year degree. Nick worked for the West Bend Police Department as a Community Service Officer from 2011-2013.
2008 Explorer of the Year - John Ballard
John was one of the most active members of the Explorer Post since accurate records have been kept. John performed over 239 hours of community service with Explorer Post and has over 278 hours of riding along with officers on patrol and in the communications center. In 2009, John was employed by the West Bend Police Department as a Community Service Officer patrolling the parks during the summer. John is one of eight Explorers from the Post that attended the 2008 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2010, John attended the basic recruit school. John is currently an officer with the Capital Police in Madison.
2007 Explorer of the Year - Brandon Zusy
Brandon is attending the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Brandon is one of eight Explorers from the Post that attended the 2008 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado and was a member of the four person team that took 3rd Place in Traffic Accident Investigation at the conference. Brandon also attended the 2010 National Explorer Conference in Atlanta, GA.
2006 Explorer of the Year - Jason Onken
Jason recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice. Jason is one of eight Explorers from the Post that attended the 2008 National Explorer Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. Jason also attended the 2010 National Explorer Conference in Atlanta, GA, where he received an award for having the highest test score on the written examination. In 2011 completed the Police Academy at Fox Valley Technical College. In March 2012, Jason entered the brotherhood of law enforcement by being hired as a Police Officer by the McFarland Police Department.
2005 Explorer of the Year - Chad Kohler
Within a month of joining the post, Chad became the Supply Sergeant, showing the determination to become involved. Chad attended the Fox Valley Technical College where he obtained his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and attended the Recruit Academy at the same time through the integrated program. Chad was hired in 2007 by the West Bend Police Department where he is currently working patrol and is one of the Field Training Officers.
2004 Explorer of the Year - Michelle Fugill
Michelle left the Explorer Post right after high school in order to attend UCLA. In 2010, Michelle graduated with honors from UCLA with her Bachelor Degree in Psychology and minors in Education, Spanish & Applied Developmental Psychology. Michelle is now teaching an all-day bilingual K-5 classroom at a charter school in Milwaukee. While working full time, Michelle is now pursuing her Master’s Degree.
2003 Explorer of the Year - Clint Kempfer
2002 Explorer of the Year - Leah Anderson
2001 Explorer of the Year - David Gasperetti
While a member of the Explorer Post and attending the West Bend High School, David produced a video showing a typical stereotype of a police officer conducting a traffic stop and a professional traffic stop using the Verbal Judo technique. This video is still used annually by the Explorer Post as a training tool for new members.
2000 Explorer of the Year - April Winter
1999 Explorer of the Year - Matthew Rohlinger
Matt was an Explorer from 1996-2001 and was the first Explorer of the Year. Matt went on to attend the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2002, Matt was hired by the West Bend Police Department and was promoted to Sergeant in 2008. Matt is currently working as a Watch Commander on patrol and serves as one of the departments instructors for CPR, Firearms and DAAT. In 2009, Matt founded the West Bend Police Honor Guard and serves as the coordinator for the unit. Matt has also been an Advisor for the Explorer Post since being hired in West Bend.
If you have an update to the information listed above or one of the pictures of the award being presented from 1999-2021 please forward the pictures and or information to Detective Thomas Lichtensteiger.
