KRONENWETTER, WI (WSAU) — The Kronenwetter Police Department is one of more than 40 first responder agencies awarded a grant for equipment or training from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.
Police Chief Terry McHugh says they’ll be using their check to purchase new batteries and pads for their AED units along with CPR kits. McHugh says those items are kept in every patrol vehicle because his officers are often the first to arrive at a medical emergency. “It’s critical. Our officers have to have training on that equipment and be professional with it.”
Being able to upgrade the AEDs through grant funding frees up money in other areas of the budget as well. “We can’t say that enough. We really appreciate these types of grants and what they can do for the community.
WPS Foundation awards Rewarding Responders Grant to Kronenwetter PD. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
“It allows us to get these items and save on the back end of the budget because we know we’ll have money for other things,” added McHugh.
WPS Spokesperson Matt Cullen says their employees often work alongside first responders in emergencies, so knowing they have the right equipment helps everyone. “It’s part of our commitment to safety for our customers and communities.”
The WPS Foundation Rewarding Responders grant program allows police, fire, and EMS agencies operating within the WPS service area to apply for funding or training. Cullen says the application process includes details about how the equipment or training fits into the department’s overall public safety plan.
Agencies are limited to submitting one application every two years, meaning the Kronewetter PD is not eligible for a grant in 2025. Any agency that didn’t receive a grant this year can apply for one next year.
This is the 11th year for the WPS Foundation Rewarding Responders grant program. In that time over 210 different Police, Fire, and EMS departments have been awarded grants totaling more than $600,000.
This year, other agencies that received grants include the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Mosinee Police Department, Hatley Area Fire and Ambulance District, Plover Police Department, and Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department.
RELATED: Kronenwetter Fire and Police Departments receive WPS grants
Kronewetter has won WPS grants on a few occasions including 2019 when the Police and Fire departments received money for new helmets and a device used to test recreational drugs for dangerous substances.
Last year SAFER, based in Rib Mountain, cashed a $2,000 grant to purchase new gas detectors.
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