APPLETON, Wis. — There’s a new chief making history at a Wisconsin police department.
Appleton Police Department’s new chief, Polly Olson, is the first female police chief in the department’s history.
But she’s no stranger to the Appleton community. She grew up in the area and is raising her kids there.
“I have a lot of love for this community. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I just look forward to continuing to provide that level of safety and security for everyone,” Olson said.
Chief Olson has spent 22 years on the force in Appleton. Now, she’s the chief of the department she first started at.
“Serving my community has really just been a passion I’ve had,” Olson said.
She’s climbed the ranks after all these years and has found herself in charge of dozens of officers and the safety and wellbeing of the Appleton community.
“I feel a lot of gratitude to be in this position. I feel really a lot of… I don’t want to get emotional… but just really thankful that the people who work here have placed their trust in me and that I have been able to build those relationships over the past 22 years,” Olson said.
There are a just over a handful of women in the department and for Lt. Meghan Cash, it’s inspiring to have a female chief at the top.
“To be able to look and say that I am not just one, but our boss, our leader of this agency is female, not only makes me happy but lets me tell my daughter who is just in kindergarten that you can do anything,” Cash said.
Olson said the younger generation can do anything they dream of if they work hard and put their mind to it.
“You don’t have to sell yourself short in terms of your goals, set them high,” Olson said.