Village police force may soon be back at full strength

Port chief considers allowing officers to resume moonlighting

The Village of Fredonia’s police force could soon be back at full strength, Port Washington Police Chief Kevin Hingiss said this week.

In March, Hingiss stopped his department’s officers from moonlighting with other law-enforcement agencies to reduce exposure to the Covid-19 virus.

Of Fredonia’s eight part-time officers, six work full time for the Port Washington Police Department, including Village Marshal Mike Davel, who is a captain with the Port department.

Davel said he was allowed to do administrative work for the Fredonia department but was restricted from patrol duties.

Eight Port officers, including six in Fredonia, moonlight with other agencies, Hingiss said.

On average, Fredonia officers work about 76 hours per week. When none are on duty, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s deputies patrol the village. All eight Fredonia officers are either employed full-time with other departments or are retired.

“We work basically with the permission of the Port Washington Police Department,” Davel said.

Davel said he talked to Hingiss this week about relaxing the restriction, and Monday night Hingiss told the Port Police and Fire Commission he was considering doing so.

On Tuesday, Hingiss said he would likely make a decision this week.

Davel said there have not been any issues with relying more heavily on coverage by the Sheriff’s Office. “Throughout this lockdown, we’ve been very slow,” he said. 

But with businesses starting to open up and residents increasingly engaging in outdoor activity, Davel said he thought it might be time to relax restrictions on police officers.

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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