The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department (UWPD) is in the final stages of selecting a new chief following the resignation of former Chief Kristen Roman in February 2024.
The department has evaluated four candidates, each delivering public presentations to outline their vision and qualifications. The final candidate made their presentation last Friday.
The four finalists for the position are:
- Benjamin Newman, chief of police at Southern Illinois University
- Bobby Cuthbertson, deputy chief of police at North Carolina A&T State University
- Brent Plisch, interim chief of police at UW-Madison
- Nicole Waldner, assistant chief of police at the Milwaukee Police Department
The selection process has been comprehensive, aiming to identify a leader who will uphold the department's commitment to safety and community engagement, UWPD said. The university is encouraging community members to submit their thoughts and evaluations promptly to ensure their perspectives are considered in the final decision.
Chief Kristen Roman, who had served the department since 2017, stepped down amid an internal investigation looking into multiple violations of university policies.
The inquiry, conducted by UW-Madison’s Office of Human Resources, substantiated several breaches of university policy, including engaging in a consensual relationship with a subordinate, failing to report outside income, neglecting to share pertinent information with authorized personnel and mismanaging fleet vehicle records and parking payments.
These violations came to light during a separate investigation into another employee matter, prompting UWPD administrative leadership to request a formal review of Roman’s conduct.
In the interim, Assistant Chief Brent Plisch has been serving as the acting chief of UWPD.
Plisch, who joined the department in 2005, previously held the position of Assistant Chief of Administration and Support. Prior to his tenure at UWPD, he served as an Army captain.
For more information on the candidates and to provide feedback, visit the UWPD's official website.
