Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza resigns, will get paid through August marshfieldnewsherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from marshfieldnewsherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
MARSHFIELD – Police Chief Rick Gramza has resigned, effective immediately, amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a department employee.
The City Council voted 8-2 Thursday morning to allow the resignation. Gramza, who has been on voluntary paid administrative leave since August, submitted a short and terse resignation letter, City Administrator Steve Barg said.
The separation agreement, which the City Council discussed in closed session Tuesday evening, includes the council withdrawing the complaint it filed in December against Gramza with the city s Fire and Police Commission, Barg said. The commission s hearings, which were scheduled to begin next week, will be canceled, Barg said.
On Nov. 6, a special prosecutor filed three felony misconduct in office charges and misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct against Gramza. On Feb. 18, Portage County Circuit Judge Thomas Eagon, acting as substitute judge in the Wood County case, ruled there was not enough evidence to continue the felony charges against Gramza.
According to the criminal complaint, a department employee reported Gramza sexually assaulted her in his office. She told an Eau Claire police investigator the assaults happened repeatedly during the past five years, but she was afraid to report them.
Gramza told the investigator he had a relationship with the woman but that it was consensual, according to the complaint.
By Mike Leischner
Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza. MWC file photo.
MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) â An eight-day hearing schedule has been set to determine if Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza will keep his job.
The cityâs Police and Fire Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to schedule hearings between March 10th and 25th, according to WDLB Radio in Marshfield.
City Administrator Steve Barg says the proceedings must be thorough, and the public can expect it to play out much like a court case.
âRickâs attorney will want to contest things that the cityâs attorney is presenting and vice versa. We ask people to bear with us,â said Barg. âBut the hearing dates are finally set. Thatâs a good thing to be able to tell the citizens- thereâs activity.â
Bob McManus. MWC file photo.
MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) Â City leaders in Marshfield have voted to move forward with proceedings that could end with the removal of Mayor Bob McManus from office.
WDLB Radio in Marshfield reports that the investigation stems from an open-records request relating to text messages that were allegedly sent by McManus from a city-issued cell phone.
According to McManus, an investigation into the matter was opened by the Portage County Sheriff’s office last fall. The results were turned over to the Wood County District Attorney before the end of 2020, and the matter was closed without any formal charges.