Cohn, Wentlandt Appointed Greenfield's Fire, Police Chiefs

Greenfield's wait for permanent police and fire chiefs is over.

The Greenfield Police and Fire Commission appointed Jon Cohn as the city’s Fire Chief and Brad Wentlandt as the city’s Police Chief at a meeting at the on Thursday.

“They’ve proven themselves,” commissioner Patsy Cashmore said. “It’s pretty awesome with what little they’ve had to work with and what they’ve had to face with the upcoming budget problems the city is facing. They have to have a sense of permanency to do their job. They’ve done an exemplary job and I think we owe it to them.”

The commissioners’ support was unanimous but the terms of the appointments were not.

Commissioner Nancy Kostecki voted against the appointments, not because she was against Cohn and Wentlandt, but because she was adamant about wanting both candidates to undergo psychological exams.

“It’s not unreasonable for us to ask for that and if we don’t do it, we would be remise to not get as much information about them as possible,” Kostecki said. “It’s not that I don’t support you. If the vote was to appoint you or not appoint you, I’d appoint you. But I feel very strongly about the (psych) exams.”

The decision came minutes after a glowing recommendation by Mayor Michael Neitzke, who praised both interim chiefs for their work on tightening budgets and a myriad of other issues that have presented themselves over the last several months.

“I am absolutely convinced that the two interim chiefs that sit before you compare to anyone in the state of Wisconsin,” Neitzke said. “They are two of the most confident and capable individuals there are. In terms of fire services, there are maybe two other chiefs that I’d compare to Jon in the area. As far as the police chiefs go, (Brad is) also in the top three by far. They are by far, truthfully, the cream of the crop.

“Both of these gentlemen have their own personality but the level of cooperation between them is historic. …  I’m proud of them. They have done more in the couple months they have been in the positions than others have done in similar positions in other communities.”

Cohn and Wentlandt were shortly after former Fire Chief Russ Spahn and former Police Chief Frank Springob announced their retirements.

Cohn on an interim basis June 1; Wentlandt .

The Police and Fire Commission did not interview anyone other than Cohn and Wentlandt for the permanent positions.

Wentlandt, 46, has been with the department for nearly 21 years. Prior to taking over as the interim chief, Wentlandt spent three years as the department’s deputy inspector. He also served as captain, lieutenant, detective sergeant and police sergeant and was a police officer and police canine handler from 1991-99.

In addition, he was a state patrolman from 1989-91 and a explosive detection canine handler for the U.S. Air Force from 1985-89.

Earlier this year, Wentlandt , but withdrew his name from consideration when he was named Greenfield’s interim chief in April.

Cohn, 41, has been with the Greenfield Fire Department since November 2009, when he joined the department as a battalion chief.

After several years as a part-time firefighter, Cohn was hired as a full-time firefighter for the Fox Point Fire Department in February 1993. On Jan. 1, 1995, Cohn was a charter member of the North Shore Fire Department when the seven fire department of that area consolidated. He was eventually promoted to fire lieutenant.

He was named Greendale’s chief in February 2007 before coming to Greenfield.

Both Cohn and Wentlandt were endorsed by their predecessors.