Sheriff’s Capt. Eibs is Port’s pick for police chief

The Port Washington Police and Fire Commission on Monday selected Chad Eibs, a captain with the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, to be the city’s next police chief, City Administrator Melissa Gossett said.

Eibs, who lives in Port, is the operations captain with the sheriff’s office, where he has worked for the past 20 years.

Commission Chairman Jim Biever said Tuesday the commission interviewed the three finalists for the police chief’s job in closed session before deciding to offer the job.

Biever would not say which of the finalists — Eibs, Sheboygan Police Captain of Patrol Joel Kuszynski or Door County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Captain Carl Waterstreet — was offered the job, saying he wanted to wait until the person accepted the position.

“At this point, he’s still a candidate,” Biever said.

Wisconsin’s open records law requires the names of finalists for public positions to be revealed, and after a request from Ozaukee Press Gossett identified Eibs as the recommended chief.

Biever said that the commission sought the “absolute best candidate” for the job, someone who can work with the officers, city officials and citizens.

“For me, we are looking for someone who understands the needs and challenges of a growing community. I could have worked with any of the three. They all understand community policing, but you get a feeling this one (candidate) is the best.

“I think we found a very good person.”

Eibs’ appointment, Gossett said, is subject to a background check.

Biever said his appointment is also subject to passing a physical and a drug test.

The commission, he added, has a goal of getting a new chief in place by the end of 2026.

“We’re bumping up to our goal,” he said.

Eibs will succeed former Police Chief Kevin Hingiss, who retired in June to take a job in the private sector.

Hingiss had been with the department for 42 years, starting as a police officer in 1984 and steadily rising through the ranks until being named chief in 2012.

Captain Craig Czarnecki has been serving as interim chief since Hingiss’ retirement. He did not seek a permanent appointment to the position.

Eibs has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2005 and held a variety of positions. He served as a deputy in the jail and on patrol, was a drug unit investigator, and a sergeant and lieutenant in both the patrol and detective’s units. He was a DEA task force officer and commander of the county special response team.