Serving Oshkosh Since 1959
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 and retired Chiefs of Police William J. Gonyo, Donald C. Utecht, James F. Thome 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 David W. Erickson; Captain Scott Greuel, Auxiliary Police Coordinators and Sergeants Kurt Schoeni and James Jewell, 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, two of whom are still active members. They are: Officer Junior Peterson, and Auxiliary Police Chief Donald Kujawa, who was appointed Chief of the Civil Defense/Auxiliary Police, and remains in the position leading the organization today.
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 33 members in the Auxiliary Police. To date, there have been over 240 Auxiliary Officers in the group over the past 48 years. Six 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 175,000 volunteer/non paid hours, exclusive of the time spent in training classes and at monthly meetings.
