FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chief Steven Thompson, (608) 824-7305                                                     

Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

Middleton, Wisconsin, January 12, 2026 -- A team of assessors from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG) will arrive on January 27, 2026, to examine all aspects of the Middleton Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, Chief Steven Thompson announced today.

The team will verify that the Middleton Police Department meets the Board’s state-of-the-art standards, which is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Chief Thompson said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments regarding the Middleton Police Department’s ability to comply with WILEAG’s standards.  The public may call (608) 824-7350 on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.  Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with WILEAG’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Middleton Police Department lobby at 7341 Donna Drive.  The Department contact for further information is Chief Steven Thompson at (608) 824-7305.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Middleton Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group, WILEAG, at 215 Church Ave, PO Box 1130, Oshkosh, WI 54903.

Achieving WILEAG accreditation, which includes complying with 262 standards, is a lengthy and challenging process that involves the support and effort of all Middleton Police Department employees, Chief Thompson said.   “Maintaining our WILEAG accreditation, which only a small percentage of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin have been able to achieve, is a top priority to show the citizens that we serve that we are operating under established best practices and professional standards.” 

The Accreditation Manager for the Middleton Police Department is Captain Tyler Loether. Captain Loether said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies.  The assessors will review written material, interview individuals, and visit offices and locations where compliance can be observed.  The assessors are:  Team Leader – Captain Colette Jaeger – Grand Chute Police Department; Assessor – Lieutenant Brooke Pataska – LaCrosse Police Department; and Assessor – Kendra Hendricks – UW Madison Police Department.

Once the WILEAG Board’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Board, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status, Chief Thompson stated. 

Accreditation status is granted for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group, please write to WILEAG at 215 Church Ave, PO Box 1130, Oshkosh, WI 54903 or executive.director@wileag.info.