Staff Biographies

Dennis J. LeCaptain – President

Dennis LeCaptain is a Police Officer with the Janesville Police Department, where he has served for 15 years. LeCaptain was promoted to the rank of Detective in 2000, and his primary duty is the investigation of crimes against children.

LeCaptain began his service to his fellow union brothers and sisters nearly ten years ago on the Janesville Professional Police Association Board of Directors, including two years as president. During his tenure with the JPPA Board, he became a Director on the WPPA Board, and served as Vice-President in 2005 and 2006. As President of the WPPA, he serves as a Regional Vice-President of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and, as such, attends all meetings of the NAPO Executive Board.

LeCaptain began his career in law enforcement as he worked his way through college on the family dairy farm. He received an Associate of Arts and Science, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin.

LeCaptain currently resides in the Janesville area and is a dedicated husband and proud father of two. You may e-mail him at dlecaptain@wppa.com.


James L. Palmer, II – Executive Director

Jim Palmer is responsible for the development, promotion, and operations of the WPPA. He also oversees the organization’s governmental affairs programs. Prior to joining the WPPA in 2003, Mr. Palmer worked for an Indiana law firm and primarily practiced corporate transactional law, which included incorporations, mergers and acquisitions, import law and product safety compliance, as well as specialized employment contracts. During that time, his representation included an investor-owned subsidiary of a national water utility, a regional hospital system, a minor league professional basketball team, and various units of local government.

Mr. Palmer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and a law degree from the Valparaiso University School of Law, where he was an editor of the law review. In addition to being a licensed Wisconsin lobbyist, Mr. Palmer is admitted to practice law before all state and federal courts in Wisconsin and Indiana. He is an active member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, and the Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists.

Mr. Palmer also serves as the chairman of the board of directors for the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants, and sits on the board of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. In 2009, he was appointed by Governor Jim Doyle to the Higher Educational Aids Board. Mr. Palmer is also the only police association representative on the Traffic Stop Data Collection Advisory Committee, a group convened by the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance to assist in implementing new statutory requirements related to the statewide collection of data on the race of individuals in vehicles involved in traffic stops.


Joseph R. Durkin – Director of Field Services

Joe Durkin has been an employee with the WPPA since February of 2005 and works out of the Madison office. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with an Economics Degree. Durkin was a Madison police officer from 1980 until his retirement in 2005. He served in a variety of assignments within the MPD. He served his final four years at the police department assigned to the Patrol Division as a Sergeant.

Durkin is a former Board member of the WPPA, serving in that capacity for six years. He was also a Board member of the MPPOA (Madison Professional Police Officers Association) for eight years, serving as president for five years.


Jean Steinhauer – Director of Finance

Jean Steinhauer joined the WPPA in 2005. She earned her accounting degree from the University of Illinois in 1983, and passed her CPA exam in 1989. Her 20 years of accounting experience is varied, including public and investment accounting. As the Director of Finance for WPPA, her responsibilities include all aspects of financial management, including payroll, financial statements and budgeting.

 

Andrew D. Schauer – Attorney

Andrew Schauer hails from Watertown, Wisconsin, and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee. After a year working as a legal assistant at a non-profit public interest law firm in Seattle through the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, he obtained his law degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison Law School. During that time, he worked as an Intern District Attorney in the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.

Schauer then worked as plaintiff’s side labor and employment attorney, protecting the rights of employees by representing them in discrimination, family and medical leave, wage and hour, and unemployment insurance matters. In that position, he also represented labor unions, including the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 9, which represents over 700 professional employees. In addition to his duties as an attorney, Schauer has served as a Commissioner and as Vice President of the Milwaukee City Services Commission, which oversees discipline, discharge and residency issues of Milwaukee’s non-police and fire employees.

Since joining WPPA’s legal team in February 2007, he continues to fight for the legal and contractual rights of working people by fighting to uphold grievances, and representing our members at arbitrations and PFC hearings. However, he takes even more pride in carefully reviewing matters with WPPA’s team of business agents and negotiating reasonable resolutions to issues before they reach the grievance process.

Schauer is an active member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Labor and Employment Relations Association, the Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association, as well as the Loyal Order of Moose.


Roger W. Palek – Staff Attorney

Roger joined the WPPA in January of 2008 as a Staff Attorney. Roger grew up on a farm near Lansing Michigan where his father was a UAW member at General Motors. In 1986 Roger received a B.S. in Education from Central Michigan University. After college he worked as a business, history, and physical education teacher and baseball coach. He then attended Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing where he was a member of the Law Review and graduated cum laude in 1991.

Roger moved to Appleton, Wisconsin in 1993 to serve as Executive Director of WEAC-Fox Valley. Roger was responsible for advising and counseling the local union leadership and members, negotiating each of the local contracts, processing grievances and arbitrations, and coordinating political action.

Roger left WEAC-Fox Valley for Madison in 2006 and took a labor and employment law position at Lawton & Cates S.C. Although Roger found practicing law at Lawton & Cates to be an exciting and rewarding experience, he greatly missed having direct involvement with union membership. As such, he was very pleased to have been provided the opportunity to join the WPPA staff. Roger was extremely proud to have ethically represented the teachers and educational support staff of WEAC-Fox Valley. He feels equally privileged to do so on behalf of the interests of the men and women of the WPPA.

Roger was actively engaged in volunteer work in Appleton with a variety of charities including the Humane Society, the United Way, Harbor House, and the American Red Cross where he served as Board Chairperson from 2001-03 and continues to serve as Audit Committee Chairperson. Roger is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and is admitted to the Federal bar of the Western Districts of Michigan and Wisconsin. Roger lives in Stoughton.


Gary Anderson – Business Agent

Gary Anderson has been employed by the WPPA since April of 2006. He came to the WPPA with a background in law enforcement, and his career has spanned a period of 33 years. He began his employment as a police officer for the Stoughton Police Department in September 1973.

In March of 1980, Anderson left the Stoughton Police Department to take a position with the Dane County Traffic Department. He served the citizens of Dane County as a Traffic Officer until January 1982, when the Dane County Traffic Department and Sheriff’s Department merged. In March of 2006, Anderson retired from the Dane County Sheriff’s Department as a Sergeant.

Anderson has had experience working with unions throughout most of his career. He started as a union steward for the Stoughton Police Department. From there he represented the members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Supervisors Association from 1986 until 2006. During the last ten years of his career, he held the office of President. Anderson also served in the capacity of Board Member for the WPPA for two years prior to becoming employed by the WPPA.


Alan J. Bitz – Business Agent

Alan Bitz began working for the WPPA in July 2004.  Bitz retired as a lieutenant from the Rice Lake Police Department.  He represents WPPA members in the north central and northwest regions of Wisconsin.


John Dillon – Business Agent

John Dillon began representing WPPA members in January 2000.  He was formerly with the Waukesha Police Department.


Michael S. Goetz – Business Agent

Mike Goetz has worked for the WPPA since June 2010. He previously served the WPPA's members as a Business Agent from July 2004 through December 2008, when he accepted an offer to serve as a Staff Representative for the members of AFSCME Wisconsin Council 40, which he did from January 2009 through June 2010 when he accepted an offer to return to the WPPA. His law enforcement background includes employment as a police officer with the Evansville Police Department from May 1991 to July 2004, and with the Milton Police Department from April 1992 to June 1997.

Goetz was in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from February 1989 to February 1993 and served in the Middle East during "Desert Storm" in 1991. He has a B.S. in Public Administration with an emphasis on Law Enforcement from Upper Iowa University. Goetz lives in Verona with his wife and three children, where he served a two-year term on the Verona City Council (April '03 – April '05).


Gary Gravesen – PLR, Inc.

Gary Gravesen has been representing WPPA members since 1988. He is a 20-year veteran of the Superior Police Department and a past association president of Superior Local 27. Gravesen is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Superior with a degree in Business Administration and Personnel Management. Gravesen is a representative of Police Labor Relations, Inc.


David Hendrickson – Business Agent

Dave Hendrickson began employment with the WPPA in December of 2004. Prior to employment with the WPPA, Hendrickson was a police officer with the City of Muskego Police Department from May 1987 until December 2004. While employed in Muskego he served in a variety of positions including: Patrol Officer, School Liaison Officer, DARE instructor, Tactical Team Member and a two year assignment to the Waukesha County Metro Drug Enforcement Unit. Hendrickson served on the Muskego Police Association board for eight years, 5 as president. Hendrickson represents members in southeast and south central Wisconsin.


Randy Ingram – Business Agent

Randy Ingram has worked with for the WPPA since June 2002. His law enforcement background includes employment as an E911 Telecommunicator, Corrections Officer, and Deputy Sheriff with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department from March 1993 to June 2002. In addition, he served on the Oneida County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Board of Directors, as both the Chairman of the Bargaining Committee and Grievance Committee member.

Ingram served in the United States Air Force from October 1983 to June 1992, and in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College and an A.A.S. in Police Science from Nicolet Area Technical College. He lives in Sugar Camp and serves on the Board of Education for the School District of Three Lakes and as the Assistant Chief on the Sugar Camp Volunteer Fire Department. Ingram is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

Emil S. Kezerle, Jr. – Business Agent

Emil Kezerle joined the staff of the WPPA in May of 2000. He is responsible for providing full-service representation to the ever-increasing number of WPPA members in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Also, Kezerle is the coordinator of the Upper Michigan Law Enforcement Association, a political action committee representing WPPA members in Michigan.

Kezerle worked for the Negaunee, Michigan, Police Department from 1985 to 1986, and the City of Marquette, Michigan, Police Department from 1986 to 2000. He served in an undercover position with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) from 1991 to 1996. He was promoted to Detective/Sergeant in 1996 and served in that capacity until he left the Marquette Police Department in 2000. Kezerle served as president of the Marquette Police Association and was selected City of Marquette Police Officer of the Year in both 1989 and 1995, and as Marquette County Police Officer of the Year in 1994.

Kezerle graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1986 with a degree in Criminal Justice. He attended the Michigan Police Academy in July 1985.


Francis J. McCarthy – Business Agent

Francis (“Fran”) McCarthy began working for the WPPA in June 2003 as a Business Agent for locals in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He began his law enforcement career in 1976 as a Public Safety Officer for Northern Michigan University. McCarthy worked for the City of Marquette, Michigan, Police Department from 1976 to 1988 and served as union steward there for five years. From 1989 to 2003, he was Undersheriff for the Dickinson County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office, where he was involved with contract negotiations, grievance and discipline issues.

McCarthy served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972 and is a Vietnam veteran. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and a minor in Sociology. McCarthy is affiliated with the Veterans of Foreign Wars/Active Quartermaster, American Legion, and Vietnam Veterans of America.


Paul J. Negast – Business Agent

Paul started with the WPPA in December of 2000. Prior to his law enforcement career, he was employed in the railroad industry for 14 years, primarily in traffic control. He then spent 14 years with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher. He served as an officer of the Sauk County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association for nine years, seven years as president of the Association.


Robert Pechanach – Business Agent

Bob Pechanach began working for the WPPA in May 1986. He has 17 years of experience in law enforcement with the City of Milwaukee and Waukesha County. Pechanach is a past president of the Waukesha County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. He is certified in Labor/Management Relations from Marquette University in Milwaukee.


Mike Peterson – LBA, Inc.

Mike Peterson began representing WPPA members in 1993, after retiring from the La Crosse Police Department.  He is a representative of LBA, Inc.


Jerry Tomczak – Business Agent

Jerry Tomczak is a Wisconsin native and former Lieutenant with Madison Police Department. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jerry served on the Board of Directors for the Madison Professional Police Officers Association. He served on the executive board and was grievance officer and has a wealth of experience in working with administrations and negotiating collective bargaining agreements. Jerry represents members in south west and south central Wisconsin.


Edward Vander Bloomen – Business Agent

Ed Vander Bloomen is a 12-year veteran of the Two Rivers Police Department, where he served as association president of the Two Rivers Police Department Bargaining Unit. Vander Bloomen has been representing WPPA locals since 1998.


Gary Wisbrocker – Business Agent

Gary Wisbrocker joined the WPPA staff in November 1988 as a part-time business agent and became full time in June 1990. He is a ten-year veteran of the Thiensville Police Department, where he was the past president of the Thiensville Professional Police Association. Wisbrocker received his law enforcement certification from the Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1980, and is certified in Labor/Management Relations from Marquette University in Milwaukee


Julie Neeley – Office Manager

Julie Neeley has been with the WPPA since June 1993. In December 2007, she was promoted to the position of Office Manager and Editor of the Wisconsin Police Journal. In addition, she coordinates the Annual Convention each year. Neeley also provides support to the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the Awards, Scholarship, and Legislative Committees. Neeley is certified as a Legal Secretary by Colorado State University and provides support to the WPPA’s Legal Services personnel.

 

Korrin Wareham – Administrative Assistant

Korrin Wareham began working for the WPPA as a temporary employee in September 2006, and joined the staff as a full-time employee in January 2007. She has experience in a wide range of office environments and brings to the WPPA strong skills as a receptionist and clerical support person. Wareham is responsible for answering the phones, providing secretarial support to the office staff and Business Agents, and assisting the Membership Coordinator in updating the membership database. She provides contract support, which includes editing and proofing contracts for WPPA local associations. In addition, Wareham researches wage and health insurance comparables for use in negotiations.