
New La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron is sworn in Sept. 30 at City Hall.
For Shawn Kudron, becoming La Crosse’s police chief is a natural next step in his mission of serving his chosen community and keeping people safe.
The Omaha, Neb., native — who was sworn in last week — has filled a variety of roles at the La Crosse Police Department since first taking a job as a second-shift patrol officer in February 2000.
“It’s been an evolution over my career. As I’ve grown as a law enforcement officer and as a person, I’ve been able to use my skills and ability to have some positive influence on this agency, as well as positive influence on our community,” Kudron said.
He wanted to take his skills to the chief’s office to continue to positively influence the La Crosse Police Department and keep the community safe.
Happel
The Police and Fire Commission, which chose Kudron for the position, is confident in his ability to do just that, council member Doug Happel said.
“Throughout his career — there’s been all kinds of things he’s done in the department — there have been situations where he may not have been the official leader, but he was an informal leader,” Happel said.
Kabat
La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and Happel both said Kudron has excellent communication skills and a good plan to build relationships with community stakeholders like the local universities and La Crosse County Circuit Court judges.
“I have full confidence in Shawn that he’s going to be able to keep building even stronger relationships and find ways we can work together on these things,” Kabat said.
It was a tough decision with two other talented internal candidates, Captains Jason Melby and Daniel Kloss.
“These are really outstanding people,” Happel said.
The La Crosse Police Department has been Kudron’s first choice for work since he was a criminal justice student at Winona State University. Kudron and his wife, Kim, met in college and both wanted to raise their family — which includes two daughters and a son — in the La Crosse area.
After a year in Fond du Lac, Kudron got hired at his dream job at the La Crosse Police Department. In addition to serving as a patrolman, he spent years as a DARE and GREAT officer, working in schools on community policing efforts to keep kids away from drugs and out of gangs. He spent a year as a school resource officer at Lincoln Middle School and spent many years as a criminal investigator. Before taking over the top office, Kudron was captain of the Investigative Services Bureau.
“It’s been great because I’ve been able to really see policing from a lot of different perspectives,” Kudron said.
One of the most interesting things he’s done as a police officer was serve as a member of the now-defunct mounted patrol, riding a horse as he patrolled downtown La Crosse.
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