Police
Chief’s Welcome
On behalf of the men and women of the Waunakee Police Department, welcome to our website. Here are some facts regarding the community and the department:
The Community
Waunakee is located in Northern Dane County just north of the state capital, Madison. Waunakee's approximate population is 16,165. The village covers approximately 7 square miles. We are bordered by the Towns of Westport, Springfield, and Vienna. Less than two miles from our Southern boundary are the Cities of Madison and Middleton. Waunakee is known for its great schools, low crime rates, friendly people, great sports teams and proximity to our state capital, Madison.
The Police Department
We have 25 full time employees which includes 23 police officers and 2 office staff. We have 1 Chief, 2 Lieutenants, 4 Sergeants, 2 Detectives, 1 School Resource Officer, and 13 Patrol Officers.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.. However, this varies depending on time off taken by Office staff.
The office is staffed by 2 full time employees. In 2022 office staff handled over 5,000 phone calls and 2,000 walk in customers. All 911 calls go directly to the Dane County Communication Center located in Madison, Wisconsin.
We provide 24 hour a day protection. Officers patrol over 200 streets, multiple businesses, and many parks. Officers have over 8,500 calls for service annually. The department provides many community policing programs including; Waunakee Police Department Night Out, Bicycle Rodeo, Citizen's Academy, Shop with a Cop, Coffee with a Cop and White Collar Crime Symposiums.
Spending on Police Services
According to 2021 figures provided by the Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance, Waunakee Police Department’s spending on police services was $201 per capita. The average for similar sized communities in Wisconsin was $262. Waunakee's overall spending was approximately 30% lower than the average.
Mission
The mission of the Waunakee Police Department is to "protect and serve all people with respect, fairness and compassion. We are committed to preserving peace, order and safety. We enforce laws, ordinances, safeguard constitutional rights, and maintain efficient delivery of services. We pledge to work with the community in a partnership to ensure Waunakee is a safe place for every residence and visitor. We pledge to serve with honesty, integrity and loyalty".
Values
Integrity: Committing ourselves to elevated standards of trust, responsibility and discipline while promoting justice in a fair and impartial manner.
Community: Cultivating positive interactions by fostering trust; and partnering with our community to create a high quality of life.
Professionalism: Committed to professional development while providing ethical, proficient, and respectful service.
Respect: We treat everyone in our community and workplace with courtesy and dignity. We believe in the value and sanctity of every human life and shall strive to protect and preserve the lives for all. We are committed to a work environment that is safe and open. We recognize and foster the individual talents and strengths of our fellow employees, and we celebrate their successes.