Former Silver Lake Police Chief Andrew Trudeau said negativity that did not improve over time caused him to retire from the department as of Thursday.
In an email to westofthei.com, Trudeau said:
… I have worked out in Silver Lake for over 11 years and these last six months were some of the worst I have seen. I gave up my full time position to try and save the place over the dissolution period when former Chief Kingsley had left the department on his own accord to take an out of state job. Dealing with all of the issues was hard enough for me and my family during those times. I thought it would be getting better after things had settled, but the negativity after the voting took place has continued externally and internally within the village. The last false accusation against me personally made by Patrick Dunn in cooperation with former and current village employees was the last straw for me personally. I have tried to help the village become a better place in these last six months with the remodeling of the village hall area and budget cuts, but it is clear that certain people do not want any success to happen and will stop at nothing including making up false things to get their way. I have decided that I was fighting an uphill battle with little support so I decided it was time to retire from the department. I wish things were different, but one person can only do so much.
Regarding the allegation from Trustee Dunn, Trudeau provided a copy of a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department report that says in December Dunn requested an investigation be launched into the money Trudeau used to fund Village Hall meeting room renovations. The KCSD detective assigned to the case found there was “no criminal activity” involved with the remodeling project and the case was closed.
Trudeau had been serving as chief since September after the retirement of long time Chief Dan Kingsley.
UPDATE Feb. 14, 8 a.m. — Dunn released the following statement to westofthei.com via email about why he requested the investigation and how he feels about its aftermath:
When I came in to vote on Tuesday, Nov 5, the Village Hall meeting room had been completely remodeled. I was shocked because there had been no discussion about doing any of the work. At the Nov 6, 2014 Village Board meeting I asked about the funds used to redecorate the Village Hall meeting room. There had been no discussion at any prior Board meetings about spending money, we did not have, to remodel the meeting room and the seating for the Trustees. I asked Sue Gerber where the money came from for the remodel and why there was not any prior discussions or Board approval? The response I received was from Andy Trudeau on how the money spent for materials came from funds that had been seized in a drug arrest. The work was done by Officers volunteering their time. Being prior law enforcement I knew that there are procedures that must take place before any seized money is turned over to the Police Department for its use. I also knew that the seized money, when finally given to the Police Department, was to be used for the Police, that is equipment (radar guns, etc.) or possibly field drug tests. It bothered me that this money was being used to supplement the budget of the Village. A couple of weeks later I received a phone call from a person who stated that the seized drug funds had not been released and that the arrest case had not even been adjudicated yet. Based on this information I contacted Sheriff Beth to request that an investigation be conducted into the possible misappropriation of funds. I have not heard back from the Investigator as to the outcome of the investigation. The first I heard about Mr. Trudeau’s resignation was on Thursday. It was asked of me if I had heard the rumor. There has been no formal notification of the Board by the Board President. I would think that this is important enough to call a Special Meeting to discuss what needs to be done at this time to maintain our Police Department. Anyway, if the funds used to for all the work did not come from seized drug money, where did it come from? Did Mr. Trudeau mislead the Village Board when he spoke? What did Ms. Gerber know about this since she had allowed Mr. Trudeau to answer the question for her? Did the Officers really volunteer their time or were they paid by the Village? There must be more to all of this than has come out already otherwise why would someone cleared by an investigation resign?”
Related posts
SLPD Chief Andrew Trudeau retires
Silver Lake Village Hall meeting room gets makeover courtesy of police chief
Silver Lake Village Board appoints police chief and assistant chief
Pat Dunn should not even consider running again
Why don’t people realize the problem in Silver Lake? Dunn, Galich, Albrecht, and Francart are the problem with false accusations and investigations! You too Bernard, but we know you are one of the four above. Trying to make everything about this village fail and claiming it’s the boards fault, but the previous board which involved all of you screwed it all up! The people following them will be real disappointed when they vote for them and they bankrupt the village just to get their way. They all have ties and want something from Salem and they will benefit, not you! Sad what they are doing to good people’s jobs and lives! Think about it please!
Andy would have us believe that he “gave up his full time position” to “save our village”. How noble. Then tries to have us believe he did not realize the “political winds” that were blowing through our village. Was he living in a cave for the last 6 months? 6 years? The cost savings we realized by not replacing a full time police chief were IMMEDIATELY “tapped into” for a variety of other expenditures, and Andy’s sights were set on becoming the village administrator.
When the village hired a new law firm to perform those duties, I think Andy’s “visions of sugar plums” set in. He was going to be a “lame duck” police chief with little or no backing from the board. And with the “winds of change” currently blowing through our village, I think he was smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall. And if he thinks “The Dissolvers” are responsible for our village woes, I suggest he visit the Silver Lake Strong and Dissolve Never websites. I suspect he has. Downright scary!
Oh Andy….don’t go!! Aunt Bea…what are we gonna do?
The unemployment claim will confirm retire vs resign.
Silver Lake officials will know for certain soon enough.
Pat Dunn at it again. His goal is to dissolve this village. So he needs to create controversy where there is none. His history of false allegations is stunning. A great example is when he insisted the board take action against the rescue squad for a call at the school where Pat said SLRS called off the fire units. At the board meeting the county dispatch tape was played which clearly showed the fire chief calling off the fire units. Then his group says the tape was not complete. So why did they not play the full tape at the next meeting? The offer was there.
Elections coming soon. Do you really want any of the “Dissolvers” running our village or do you want people that want to make our village string on the board?
I say NO DISSOVERS!
Read the Nov. 6, 2014 article on WestoftheI.com. “Silver Lake Village Meeting Hall to get Makeover Courtesy Police Chief. TWICE in the article, including a DIRECT QUOTE from Chief Trudeau, it is stated that SLPD drug seizure money was used for the remodelling. Then when Pat Dunn asked Sue Gerber where the funds came from to upgrade the room Trudeau AGAIN stated drug seizure money was used. The KCSD “investigation” CLEARLY shows that the seized money was properly accounted for and secured in the PD safe, thus “clearing” Chief Trudeau. OK. Then somebody please explain why he was telling the public that drug seizure money was used. Read further on in the KCSD report how he feels that perhaps one of his officers(whom he names) or the former police chief(whom he names)might have reported him because they have a figurative “ax to grind” because he was promoted to police chief. Then read how he asserts the former chief is mad at him for creating a part time police chief position, because the former chief wanted to return from Texas to resume his old position in Silver Lake.
Then read the next posting of his Jan. 7, 2015 letter to the village board accusing the SLFD members of unethical and unprofessional conduct on calls, and ordering his offers to REMOVE SLFD members from calls in the future if they witness such “offenses”. And for you “Sad what you are doing to people’s lives” blowhards….go read your own Silver Lake Strong and Dissolve Never comments before preaching to the rest of us. Andy’s got a LOT of explaining to do!
To clean up our police protection mess, call David Beth, One Call, That’s ALL!
I find it interesting that people blame others for a police chief resigning. An article dated Nov 6 2014 in west of the I. The interim police chief is quoted using drug money for the remodeling of the village hall. But in the Ksd investigation Andy stated he used money from the budget but there was no prior discussion on how the funds would be used. So either Andy lied to the village ( or maybe he got approval by one or more trustees without a formal board meeting) or he lied in the investigation. Anyways these are the type of dirty politics this village has been going through for years. Too bad Dunn gets slammed for asking questions how things that don’t add up.
I see one of “the Villagers” incumbent candidates, also a member of the Andy Trudeau Fan Club, no longer lists “Silver Lake Rescue Squad” as one of her employers on the Silver Lake Strong web page. How convenient, 4 days before the election.
Pat Dunn, a current village board trustee running for re-election. He won’t even serve as chair of any committees on the board. Committee assignments are given out by the village president. Months ago Pat announced he is stepping down from all his committee responsibilities. Now he is running for re-election. Why would we want a board member that refuses to do his/her duties? Seems his mission is to tear this village apart not move it forward.
I liked reading that police report Dunn Did not get back with the Investigator Case Closed He quit because of a time clock….. Please!!!
No matter how you look at it they lied. The Queen said it was drug money. When Dunn investigated they found out it was general fund money. Andy and Sue are not to be trusted. Now they are trying to make Dunn look bad because he checked out their story and caught them.
Comments are closed now on this post due to the proximity of the primary election.
Let me get this straight sgt. Punlsley you replied find where I ever used a disparigaging word against our police well oh well if calling Andy lame duck isn’t then the only quack around here is your and your delusional character!
@Sam…..Nice try…I said I never knocked our POLICE OFFICERS. Please find me a post where I did. You won’t. And the term “lame duck” is a political description. So back to the drawing board, “Sam”.
Sgt. punsley I never said you knocked our officers I do call lame duck disparaging I don’t care how political it is this isn’t washington D.C. It’s silver lake WI but I do understand how a delusional charecter could confuse the two because Washington is full of delusional characters!