Grand Chute: SWAT agreement in place

GRAND CHUTE - Protecting citizens is a primary role for police departments.

That's why the Town of Grand Chute in Outagamie County felt it needed to find quickly a new official partner to provide SWAT team services.

The town had an agreement with Appleton police, but that was severed in December.

The town officially did without until last week when it joined with the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department.

It was a standoff in Grand Chute last April that ended peacefully. Authorities say that's thanks in part to the presence of the Appleton/Grand Chute SWAT team.

"It's a real life adrenaline situation," said Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson.

After Grand Chute severed ties with Appleton, it left the town without a SWAT team, but not without coverage.

"The emergency response team would go anywhere in the county they were required in an emergency situation regardless of any agreements," said Captain Mike Jobe of the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department.

The town and Outagamie County Sheriff's Department signed a new agreement last week. Like the agreement the town had with Appleton, Grand Chute officers will be on the team. Grand Chute will also have senior staff on hand at situations in the town's jurisdiction. Peterson says that was one of the sticking points with Appleton. And he says having the new agreement in place is a relief.

"I think it does provide some peace of mind to have the agreement signed, to have our roles clearly defined," said Peterson.

"What the agreement does is just formalize that so there is no misunderstanding," said Jobe.

Peterson says Grand Chute normally averages a SWAT team call once every 18 months, but had four in 2012.

Town residents won't have to pay more for the service because law enforcement is already taxpayer funded. Chief Peterson says town residents probably would not notice a difference anyway, because the sheriff's department would respond even if an agreement wasn't in place.

"We work with every jurisdiction in Outagamie County because our jurisdiction is county wide," said Jobe.

Peterson says peace of mind that backup is just a phone call away.

"We're also in a position then to ensure that whatever the outcome, it's in the best interests of the citizens of Grand Chute."

The sheriff's department's bomb squad and dive team are also available to all communities in the county.