Pleasant Prairie Police Department

Department History

The Pleasant Prairie Police Department was officially created in the early 1970’s with the appointment of a part-time chief of police. For several years the department was staffed by part-time officers but did not provide 24-hour coverage. In 1980 the Town appointed its first full-time police chief, Raymond Gram, and hired its first full-time officers. By 1981 the Pleasant Prairie Police Department was a 24-hour operation with four full-time officers, including Chief Gram, supplemented with part-time officers.

In 1985, Chief Gram was succeeded by James Horvath, a veteran law enforcement officer who started his career with the Racine Police Department in 1967. In 1979, he was appointed as the Chief of Police for the City of Brillion, Wisconsin until coming to Pleasant Prairie. Chief Horvath served as Chief of Police until his retirement in December 2000. Chief Horvath was succeeded by Brian Wagner, who was hired as one of the Department’s first full-time officers in 1981. During his time with the Department, Wagner had been promoted to Lieutenant in 1987, Captain in 1993, and Assistant Chief in 1996.

In 1988, the Police Department consisted of seven full-time officers but after incorporating as a Village in 1989, the size of the Department grew dramatically. Today, the Village of Pleasant Prairie Police Department consists of thirty full-time officers patrolling an area covering approximately 32 square miles with a population of 20,000 residents.

    Our First Marked Squad – 1975                                 Today – 2010