Lieutenant Dan Abel breaking in the police department's 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle.

Officer James Autery with the latest addition to the K-9 Unit. The K-9 officer, Fedor, is a Malinois, and was imported from the Netherlands. Fedor is trained in narcotics, Search & Rescue, Bite and Tracking. Fedor’s Workability: Titled KNPV PH1 Met Lof. Over the top ball and hunt drive. Crushing grips. The third day on the job, Fedor was credited with a 55 lb. marijuana drug bust.

Some of Pontoon Beach Police Department's new vehicles purchased with drug seizure money.

March, 2005 -- Over $3.2 Million in Drug Seizure Money -- Ten Pontoon Beach Police Officers spent 12 hours counting primarily $20 bills totaling $3,294,021 of drug seized money. The Pontoon Beach Police Department's share was $2.3 millions dollars of the drug-related money. Chief Luehmann stated drug seizure monies can only be used for Law Enforcement purposes only. (See related story: Officer John Simmons receives Meritorious Service Medals.)

May 18, 2005 -- $314,633 Drug Seizure Money -- Pontoon Beach Police Officer Chris Modrusic stopped a 1999 Ford Explorer on Hiway 111 & 270 for no license registration. During the conversation with the driver, Office Modrusic noticed a discrepancy in his travel itinerary. Consent was given by the driver to search the vehicle at which time Officer Modrusic located $314,000 hidden inside the Ford Explorer. The Pontoon Beach Police Department's share was $220,633 of the seized money. Chief Luehmann stated drug seizure monies can only be used for Law Enforcement purposes only.

Pontoon Beach Police Officer Mike Pool & K-9 'Jack'

Officer John Simmons Receives Meritorious Service Medals

Pontoon Beach Police Officer John Simmons was presented meritorious service medals from Mayor Jim Denham and Police Chief Luehmann.

Officer John Simmons found over $3.2 millions dollars in drug money located in a tractor-trailer in March, 2005. This year the Pontoon Beach Police Dept. received $2.3 million dollars as the result of the federal drug seizure program.

Chief Luehmann stated as per the federal program, the money can be only spent to purchase police equipment and vehicles.

Pontoon Beach Police Officer James Autery (right) was honored at a Village Board Meeting for going above and beyond the call of duty after jumping into freezing waters of an area lake to pull two unconscious victims from their submerged vehicle after a car crash and pulled them to safety in January of 2005.

Pontoon Beach Police Dept. Sell Vehicles for $1.00 Each

Message from Police Chief Luehmann

The Pontoon Beach Police Department was born of modest beginnings in the late 60's. The police department was manned by volunteers from the community. Housed in a used mobile home, and equipped with the barest of necessities, to include a fleet of one, less-than-new Plymouth to protect and serve a population of less than 2,000. That young, upstart of a Police Department, and the Village it protected, has grown since then. But only recently has the Department recognized its long-range vision and goals through the eyes of Police Chief, Charles Luehmann.

Chief Luehmann has launched plans to develop the department into one of the finest, best equipped, and well trained Police Departments in the area. With the commitment of all the members of the Department; the unwavering support of Mayor Jim Denham, the Village Board; and the Village Administration's philosophy of "New Beginnings", that vision is on its way to becoming reality.

The recipe for such a progressive Police Department requires the proper ingredients: Manpower, training, vehicles, weapons, office equipment, computer networks, software, systems of procedure, and leadership, to ensure a consistent level of professionalism, not to mention the funding needed to acquire the necessary assets to sustain operations. Some might say that is a tall order for what is still considered a small Village of 5,700. The Police Department consists of 13 sworn Police Officers, 2 K-9s, and 6 non-sworn civilian personnel. The Police Department's fleet has grown to 11 squad cars, and one prisoner transport van.

Increased revenue from commercial growth has helped. The Village built a new Municipal Complex in 2001. The Police Department occupies one third of that building, to include its own six-cell detention center, and unfortunately the jail has not been idle.

The Department has achieved success through drug interdiction efforts, and has been fortunate to receive its share of seized drug money. The Department will use its share to augment its budget, enabling Chief Luehmann to provide additional training, equipment, and manpower to better serve the Village of Pontoon Beach.

Collectively, the Police Officers, Communications, and Records Personnel have given freely of their own time to accomplish in-house projects for which funds would have otherwise been expended, to include the development of an essential new database system. This new database program has transformed record keeping into a system that is virtually paperless. All of the members of the department, including four new officers, are attending various advanced training programs, finishing with high scores. All have dedicated themselves to the task of developing one of the best Police Departments in the area.