History

The Oshkosh Auxiliary Police/Civil Defense organization was conceived in 1958 by Deceased Chief of Police Harry A. Gunther, to assist the Oshkosh Police Department at all public functions, involving large numbers of people, as well as to assist in any disasters or emergency situations within the City. The primary function at that time was a Civil Defense role.

Retired Captain Robert C. Klifoth, Lt. James Jewell and retired Chiefs of Police William J. Gonyo, Donald C. Utecht, James F. Thome and David W. Erickson along with retired Auxiliary Police Coordinator Captains Harold Graves and Scott Kronenwetter were instrumental in the growth of the Auxiliary Police Organization.

The Auxiliary Police is currently supported through direct interaction and guidance of Chief of Police Scott D. Greuel; Captain Kurt Schoeni, Auxiliary Police Coordinators and Sgt. Matt Kroening and Ofc. Matt Harris Auxiliary Police Advisors/Training Instructors.

The first class of recruits began training in November 1958, graduating in April 1959. The graduating class consisted of twenty-three men, one is still an active member; Officer Junior Peterson. Donald Kujawa, who was also a member of the first graduating class and was a key founding member of the Unit and was appointed Chief of the Civil Defense/Auxiliary Police, recently retired after serving as Auxiliary Police Chief for 51 years. Michael Suess, an Auxiliary Police Officer since 1976 was appointed Auxiliary Police Chief upon Kujawa's retirement.

During the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, at the height of the cold war era, Unit membership was as high as 70- 80 members. There are currently 40 members in the Auxiliary Police. To date, there have been over 380 Auxiliary Officers in the group over the past 53 years. Nine members have become Officers of the Oshkosh Police Department.

As the Auxiliary Police organizations role has evolved, all association with the Civil Defense function was eliminated in the '70's.

Officers of the Oshkosh Auxiliary Police, have completed assignments requiring more than 200,000 volunteer/non paid hours, exclusive of the time spent in training classes and at monthly meetings.