Officials investigating sexual harassment complaint filed against Everest Metro Police chief

WESTON − The Everest Metro Joint Police Commission is investigating a claim made against the chief by a department employee.

This week, the Wausau Daily Herald received a copy of an email sent to officials written by Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer. On Thursday, Palmer confirmed that he was the author of the email the newspaper received.

The email said the Everest Metropolitan Professional Police Association, the union for the Everest Metro Police Department, learned that a formal complaint had been filed with the Joint Police Commission that alleged Police Chief Clayton Schulz had engaged in sexual harassment.

The union members have concerns about what is considered a serious matter, the email states.

"The police department's ability to attract and retain talented employees relies upon a work environment that is safe, positive, and harassment-free," Palmer said in the email. "As such, the EMPPA appreciates the importance of thoroughly and objectively investigating allegations of wrongdoing that undermine that essential aim."

Palmer urged the commission to take the same measures it would take if any "rank-and-file" member of the department faced the same allegations of misconduct. Specifically, Palmer asked that Schulz be immediately placed on administrative leave while the Metro Joint Police Commission investigated the complaint.

The Wausau Daily Herald reached out to the president of the Metro Joint Police Commission, Dave Eisenreich, as well as Weston Village President Mark Maloney, Weston Town Chairman Milton Olson and city of Schofield Mayor Kregg Hoehn through emails on Wednesday and again on Thursday, asking for a copy of the complaint and the status of Schulz's employment and the investigation.

Eisenreich sent a response Thursday afternoon confirming receipt of the message, stating there is an investigation and they would release information as "soon as possible." Eisenreich did not say whether Schulz is on administrative leave.

Schulz did not respond to emails sent by the Daily Herald on Thursday and Friday seeking a response to the allegations.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

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This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Officials investigating complaint against Everest Metro Police chief