Sunday, December 30, 2012
I have had the privilege of meeting many of you; whether it was a brief conversation, or an ongoing observation over the course of the year, these are my picks for those people who made things happen in Muskego.
I'm humbled whenever I consider the position I have. I get to tell your stories, whether it's crime, fire, personal triumph, or even just a fun weekend activity that brings a smile to kids' faces. This is not a scientific list, nor indicative of how well I may have gotten to know people personally; it's just my observation of who always seemed to 'be there' when something was happening in the community. There is also no meaning to the order, so don't read into it. 1. Suzi Link - folks either love her or hate her, but I have to admit she shows up. A lot of long Common Council meetings during much of the year would have worn others out, but Link has been a perennial presence to argue her point and to make sure the aldermen take the public …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Even in an age of cell phones and instant everything, if you're not prepared for the worst in your car or your home, you may get left in the cold.
"It's the most common mistake people make. They figure if there car is stuck off the road, they'll just call for help, and help will come," said Officer Gary Mrotek with the Muskego Police Department. He also teaches emergency preparedness and response classes through Community Emergency Response (CERT) programs. The fatal flaw in that 'instant response' logic according to Mrotek is that someone may answer at the other end of the line, but the answer may be that help will take a long time. So, the mantra is 'shelter in place,' and it's worth just a small amount of time and organization to give yourself better odds in surviving in your car or in your home during an extended period of power outage. Keeping an emergency kit in both places …
Monday, June 4, 2012
Emergency preparedness is something everyone, including those of us in 'bedroom communities,' need to be better at. The good news is that they teach classes on it, right here in Muskego.
Many in Muskego received credit for helping out their neighbors after the 2010 tornado that left the Post Office and many other homes damaged and thousands without power. However, the odds aren't in our favor overall in having the know-how or equipment to deal with a tragedy. Jim Day, with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, threw out a disturbing statistic: 75 percent of the public is completely unprepared to deal with a disaster, including a flood, widespread power outage or even a car accident scene. The good news is that since 1985 CERT has grown from a program of the Los Angeles Fire Department to a nationally recognized program that teaches average citizens how to help out in the critical hours after a disaster. …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Annual Muskego Police Department awards ceremony was held Wednesday night, showing community that not all heroes wear a uniform
Citizens and officers alike were honored by the Muskego Police Department Wednesday night during their annual awards ceremony at City Hall. Certificates of Appreciation were given to: Bryon Paape - assisting in the arrest of a suspicious man, who it turned out had stolen a donation jar from the Kwik Trip and was wanted in two other thefts Phil and Steve Ziegler, Lloyd McIndoe, Terri Boyer, John Mooney/Tess Corners Fire Department - recognizing their service on the Muskego Task Force on Public Safety, which has been the organizing body behind Muskego's National Night Out. Tess Corners Fire Department - for decades of support to MPD Perfect attendance awards were also given to Officer Scott Sheridan and Lt. Craig Simuncak; Sheridan was also …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
MPD partners to present variety of programs and classes aimed to increase awareness, safety.
The Muskego Police Department wants to remind residents of upcoming programs. Check your calendars to see if you're able to attend, and sign up to become more informed. Police Citizen’s Academy, March 7, 2012 – The tentative start date for the spring 2012 Police Citizen’s Academy. If you are interested in learning more about your police department, this is the class for you. For information, contact Officer Gary Mrotek at gmrotek@ci.muskego.wi.us or 262-679-5653. DNR Boater Safety Class April 10-13, 2012 – DNR Boater Safety Class held from 5-7:30pm at Muskego Public Library and taught by Muskego Police officers. Check the Muskego Parks and Recreation Department guide for information on how to sign up. Prescription Drug Collection April 28…
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Care to learn more about what it's like behind the badge? What you find out may surprise you.
Officer Gary Mrotek is honest in saying that some of the more than 200 students that have come through the Muskego Police Department's Citizen's Academy came in as distrustful or disliking the police. Which is the point of the program that has been in place for more than 10 years. "What you may see on television doesn't always tell the whole story," Mrotek told the Fall 2011 class. "We hope to explain why the police do what they do, and perhaps gain some understanding between the citizens and police." They are now accepting applications for the Spring 2012 Citizen’s Academy. Perhaps you are interested in seeing if you would have what it takes to be a police officer, or would just like to have a better understanding of how the police …
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Second annual 'Shop with a Cop' provides opportunity for area kids to spread cheer to their families.
Vicki Wilson, assistant manager at the Muskego Walmart, said she loves giving away money. So Saturday morning, Dec. 10 was a highlight, as area children were paired up with Muskego Police officers, who volunteer their time, to shop for their families using a $100 Walmart gift card. The program is nationally based, and is in its second year in Muskego, with the store opening in October 2010. Wilson said she's hoping to see the program grow as she knows there are many more families that could benefit. Officer Gary Mrotek said it was difficult to gather names, but also hoped that more families would step forward in the coming years. Families were contacted through the schools and human services agencies. The gang started off at the Muskego …
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Drunk driving and drugged driving are costly but arrest numbers remain high
Sargeant Peter Lynkiewicz of the Muskego Police Department instructed the class Wednesday evening on how officers approach accident scenes and reconstruct just what happened and why it happened. Unfortunately the 'why' most of the accidents happened also involve the other component of this week's class: drunk and drugged driving. Since Wisconsin adopted drugged driving laws to partner along with those on the books for drunk driving, the first fatal accident using the new law in Waukesha County occurred in Muskego in 2005. That year was particularly bad for Muskego, Lynkiewicz said, as at least five fatal accidents were recorded in the city in about 10 months. While the class proceded, two of our classmates were 'test subjects' for the …
Friday, October 7, 2011
Evidence gathering uses a little old detective work with new technologies to tell a story and capture suspects.
We've gotten to the middle of our coursework, and the fifth session of the Muskego Police Citizens Academy had students donning their proverbial Sherlock Holmes hats to see what is left behind at the scene of a crime. Police have hundreds of options to find clues and evidence, carried in large tackle boxes and containing various tools and powders - this is the apothecary of police science. Officer Gary Mrotek explained that he loves the investigation part of his job, and has an obvious passion for piecing together what happened where and by whom. Key to telling any story is in the pictures, and with much less expensive digital technology allows for an unlimited amount that can be taken at a scene of a crime or an accident. However as …
Emergency response program aims to empower citizens to help themselves, and police, in times of crisis.
Gary Mrotek, an officer with the Muskego Police Department, explained that it's tough to leave home during severe weather events to aid others when he knows he's leaving his family. However, he's convinced that CERT programs (Community Emergency Response Team) are the best way to arm everyone with the skills and know how when there's a medical emergency, the lights go out or the basement starts flooding. CERT programs were formed as a result of the earthquakes in 1985 in northern California, when it was quickly realized that first responders could not handle the demand for fire and medical services. Classes educate people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, …
Suzi Link
7:21 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Denise - That always confuses me too! I understand that all of us have very full plates. Fortunately, not all issues strike a chord for each Muskego resident. For the issues that do get our respective hearts pumping, however, we have to make the effort to state our opinions in the appropriate setting to have a constructive impact. (I realize that standing up in front of a group is intimidating … more ›