SLPD Chief Andrew Trudeau leaves department

silver-lake-police-doorNote: The original version of this story and headline said Trudeau resigned.  Trudeau says he retired. Hence the ambiguity that follows. — DH

Silver Lake Police Chief Andrew Trudeau has resigned/retired, said Trustee Michael Decker.

Trudeau resigned as chief/retired from the department via a letter received by the village Thursday. The action was effective as of noon Thursday, said Decker, who is the chairman of the village Police and Judicial Committee.

Trudeau said he resigned/retired because the negatives of the position far outweighed the positives, Decker said.

Trudeau had been serving as chief since September after the resignation and retirement of long time Chief Dan Kingsley. Trudeau had been with the department as an officer for 11 years.

UPDATE 8:24 p.m. — Trudeau issues a statement on why he retired.

Related post

Former SLPD Chief Trudeau: Negativity lead to retirement decision

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29 Comments

  1. Bernard Punsley says:

    “the negatives of the position far outweighed the positives’. REALLY??? He developed the position for HIMSELF!!!! There was no “search”, testing process, competition, etc. And having served previously on the force, just exactly what did he THINK the job entailed!? And why didn’t he just go back on line as a police officer?
    So NOW what do we do? I say, call David Beth….”One Call, That’s ALL”!!!!!!

  2. Mayberry Revisited says:

    Just wondering, did Andy have to turn in his bullet before he left?

  3. Damage Control says:

    Well, let’s see how “the Villagers” spin the “damage control” on this one. Probably will blame the “Dissolvers”. It’s been a revolving door for our police and fire department command staff, how’s that old “STATUS QUO” working for you folks?

  4. Negative Nabobs says:

    Let me get this straight…..the “Dissolvers” are the ones promoting negativity in our village, and “the Villagers” are the ones promoting the positive aspects of our village. Follow me on this. Yet our former police chief(the latest one, not the prior one) cites “the negatives” of the position that led to his decision to resign.
    Who’s camp do you think HE was in? Can’t wait to see the “spin” the websites put on this fiasco!

  5. Branden Sellers says:

    February 17, 2015
    April 7,2015…. nothing more, needs to be said!!!

  6. daryl eckert says:

    Ok get a grip silver lake government reminds me of watching a bunch of second graders. That being said, the town needs to erase the board and start over,for years people have dreaded the thought of having anything to do with the town, even scared to drive thru it . The officials don’t care if the town is gaurded from fire,rescue,or now police protection after loosing the best man the town ever had. Now what silver lake ?

  7. Ughh says:

    Real big surprise!!!! Why does everyone keep wanting to keep the village together? I can’t believe the voters in Silver Lake actually voted to keep the village together. I can’t wait to see the next big “development”!!

  8. Board Support says:

    IF the support Chief Trudeau got was anything like the support(or LACK thereof)
    Chief Draeger is getting from the village board, it’s a wonder he hung in there as long as he did. His predecessor surely saw the handwriting on the wall. What a sad state of affairs. So are we going to blame this on the former board, or the new members running for the board. Certainly, the current board is not going to shoulder any of the responsibility. Our new lawyer has got to be shaking his head!

  9. a real adult says:

    Let me add to my other comment. What the town needs is a group that can work together for the village and its needs, not for themselves and the name that goes with making these decisions and not who knows who and who’s been living in town the longest .it would be a great place if it was allowed to grow with new business more than a town of empty buildings.

  10. Police Protection? says:

    Call David Beth. One call……THAT’S ALL!!!!!

  11. Aunt Bea Perplexed says:

    Oh Andy….how are we going to break the news to Gomer?

  12. Gomer Pyle Pontificates says:

    “Shazzammm….there’s gonna be a new sheriff in town……golly gee whiz”

  13. SL Goverment Gone Wild says:

    So sad to see the village falling apart. This was predicted by a group of professionals 3 years ago. The present board voted to do nothing about it and just let it happen. Now they will try to blame the people not in power for it. Same old crap. 3 Fire Chiefs and 2 Police Chiefs
    quit under their watch. Who fault is it.

  14. Madeline says:

    HMMMM…..let me get this right,you the dissolvers are without fault,and
    Totally wonderful,and also you the villagers are equally without fault,and
    Wonderful HMMMMM….Oh I see …that is why you cannot keep a police chief,
    Fire chief,and “almost dissolved??” Yeah,that is because everyone is just so
    Happy and positive out there and people are just waiting in line for these
    Wonderful ,uplifting,jobs….with of course only those who have the Silver Lake
    Village’s ,best interest at heart……what a place!!

  15. Bernard Punsley says:

    OK Folks….so HOW is the board going to address our police protection situation? How long have we been waiting for them to address the Fire Chief situation? Speaking of which, daytime staffing CONTINUES to be a PROBLEM for our fire department….our board, in their infinite wisdom, DISCONTINUED our daytime staffing in the village. Went back to the old “status quo” way of doing things. When a board member had a fire emergency at his home today, fire could only respond with 1 person. They do the best that they can. I would ask Roger Johnson: “Where do you work during the day, Roger? In the village”. Just how could he respond to a fire call. Ditto for most of our firefighters. And if they are not at work, are they supposed stay in the village “in case” a fire call comes in? How are they supposed to go grocery shopping, doctor visits, dentist appointments, all the things the rest of us take for granted. What happened to our Public Works employees also being on the fire department so they could respond to calls. SLRS has paid personnel in the building during the day, our squad cars are staffed by paid officers, our fire station sits EMPTY, and the fire fighters are supposed to stay in the village ALL DAY in case a fire call comes in??????? STATUS QUO…NO!!

  16. Let's Make a Deal! says:

    I saw we bring back Monty Hall….”Let’s Make a Deal” show…..behind door number 1…..we have a candidate for Fire Chief. Behind door number 2, we have a candidate for Police Chief. 3. Behind door number 3, we have BERNARD PUNSLEY……Master Prognasticator….. Soothe Sayer….Beloved by ALL(ok, most)
    Sue Gerber……….COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. Andrew Trudeau says:

    This is the first and last time I will posting a comment. I would like to say I have watched most of the posters on here repeatedly comment negatively about me in great length over the last six months of my career in Silver Lake. Since I have worked for the village for over a decade the sad fact is I have helped or been on calls to assist nearly each and everyone of you over my career in Silver Lake. The same people here on this comment section that have repeatedly criticized me were not so critical when they needed my help over my career. So for those here that will continue to make comments I will spell this out so my words are not spun differently. I stepped in when Chief Kingsley had left, I went to part time with no benefits and limited hours to try to give some stability to the department. I assisted in cutting the budget to save the citizens money and keep the taxes from going up. I have come under repeated attacks from trustees inside the village, the citizens and former employees. The last false allegation made by Patrick Dunn with the help from former/current employees to try to discredit me was the final push that led me to this decision to retire. With people that have given up any moral values to try and push their own agenda no matter what the cost or ramifications, I think that is very depraved and wanted no more part of it. I retired on Feb 12, 2015 due to these reasons and I would like to thank all the good people in Silver Lake who made my career enjoyable while working.

  18. Let's Make a Deal II says:

    Behind Door #1: Chief “Retired”; Behind Door #2: Chief “Resigned”; Behind Door # 3: Chief “Retreated”. Roger Johnson…..COME ON DOWN!!!!

  19. Bernard Punsley says:

    Atta boy Andy…..right out of the Dave Kordecki playbook. Didn’t see any mention of your “support” of the SLFD during your career. Pretty well known which side of the tracks you were on when it came to “fire vs. rescue”. While you “stepped in”, as you call it, you cut a deal with Roger Johnson, call it what you want. You face NO COMPETITION and drew up your own job. Didn’t see you mention in your post your attempt to become our Village Administrator. How’d that work out for you? You didnt’ have any trouble trying to decide how a Fire Chief should be chosen for the FD, did you? Why not have the “candidate” just go in and sit down with Roger Johnson and cut a deal? Your pontification “with people that have given up any moral values to try and push their own agenda no matter what the cost or ramifications” wouldn’t apply to everything SLRS has tried to do to SLFD….WOULD IT??
    Nah…..you don’t know nothing about that! By your own admission, you have come under “repeated attacks from trustees inside the village”…..gotta be more than just Pat Dunn, since last time I looked, “trustees” is plural, more than one! We’ve now gone through 2 police chiefs and 3 fire chiefs in less than a year, won’t support the fire chief we currently have…..and our current board bears none of that responsibilty? You “hooked your wagon” to Sue Gerber and SLRS, Andy…..how’d that work out for you? Since you won’t be replying, I’m sure more than one “villager” will.

  20. What about the time says:

    What about the time you went on Kenosha radio and slammed the SLFD. The radio folks slammed you for your stupid comments. What comes around goes around Andy.

  21. darren says:

    Darren it’s pretty sad you won’t publish the truth. Someone will and I took a screen shot of everything I’ve sent to to you. Be a real reporter!

  22. to Andy Trudeau and vol. officers says:

    If all the officers working on the board room project had used a time clock, we would know what they were doing.

    After all, working in the village hall has some insurance liabilities and volunteers may/may not be covered by village insurance.

    In addition, employees don’t usually go about redecorating the company offices. Someone (who was that?) cave an approval to take hammer and nail and paint to village property.

  23. One call and wait for an hour,, says:

    Ask anybody in paddock Lake what they feel about having Kenosha County patrol the streets. They wait 30 to 40 minutes or longer for someone to show up. The County police to patrol the streets don’t know the residence don’t know where the crime is I don’t know what to do other than write tickets on Highway 50. 1 call is certainly not all when it.comes to getting less protection and coverage.

    1. This comment is not meant to be a position on what’s best for Silver Lake. But as for Paddock Lake — I have lived in Paddock Lake for 23 years. Since the village has had a dedicated deputy it has never been my experience that a 30-40 minute or more wait is the norm in an emergency when you need a deputy. My experience is that a deputy has always been on the scene seemingly instantly.

  24. Bernard Punsley says:

    @”wait for an hour”…..ah…nice try…Paddock Lake has a “dedicated” patrol officer….your contention they wait “30 to 40 minutes” for a squad to show up will NOT be verified by Dispatch records. Try again.

  25. SL Goverment Gone Wild says:

    Wait for an hour. Wrong. Even if we do not have a dedicated officer there are 2 deputies in Salem township 24-7. Nice try. Go tell the sheriff what you just said. He would laugh you out of his office.

  26. Sam posey says:

    If sargent punsley thinks he can do better than what our officers have tried to do under these circumstances than I suggest sir you saddle up your horse and take to the streets and quit hiding behind some Hollywood fantasy you seem to live by using a delusional identity!

  27. Bernard Punsley says:

    @Sam posey……um, what “circumstances” are you referring to? Put your bullet back in your shirt pocket, Barney. Show me ONE COMMENT I made disparaging our police officers? ( Trudeau’s odd behavior excluded!)

  28. @SL Goverment Gone Wild says:

    Of Course Dave Beth will tell you how great it will be if Kenosha County patrols Silver Lake. He clearly gets more money for his budget if they patrol Silver lake. Ask the Municipal Judges in Salem and Paddock Lake who they would rather have patrol their streets.

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