Rokus Picked as Eau Claire’s New Police Chief

V1 Staff |

A two-decade veteran of the Eau Claire Police Department has been chosen as the force’s latest chief. Matt Rokus – who joined the ECPD in 1997 and has served as deputy chief since 2014 – will become police Chief on Dec. 31. He was selected by the Eau Claire Police and Fire Commission to replace retiring Chief Jerry Staniszewski. Rokus, 44, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UW-Eau Claire and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy for Police Executives.

As deputy chief, he has overseen the department’s Investigations and Professional Standards Division. He as chosen from among three finalists, which included Lt. Derek Thomas of the ECPD and Altoona Police Chief Kelly Bakken. As chief, Rokus will lead a department with 160 employees, including 100 sworn officers, and an annual budget of more than $17 million, and which responds to more than 51,000 calls for service annually.