City of Altoona Announces Finalist for Police Chief Position

Thursday, January 31, 2019
Mike Golat | City Administrator

Altoona, Wisconsin.  The City of Altoona Police and Fire Commission members met this evening and voted to extend a conditional offer of employment to Police Chief candidate Kelly Bakken, who is currently serving as police chief for the City of Black River Falls, WI.  The offer is conditioned on a satisfactory background check, physical and on agreeing to terms of employment.

Ms. Bakken, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Upper Iowa University, began her career in public safety in 1998 as a deputy sheriff jail officer for the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department.  Prior to being appointed as chief in Black River Falls, Ms. Bakken held positions as patrol officer, detective, patrol and investigations captain and chief of police; her longest tenure was with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, from 2010 to 2017.

If hired, Ms. Bakken will replace former Chief Jesse James, who resigned his position after being elected to the State Assembly as representative for District 68.