Ride, captain, ride into retirement

Pruss wraps up 30-year career as Greendale cop

By JULIE BECKER

Posted: Dec. 15, 2009 |(0) Comments

Greendale — As the new year begins, so, too, will the next chapter of a Greendale police captain's life.

Capt. Randy Pruss is set to retire from the Greendale Police Department on Dec. 31, with more than 30 years of service under his belt.

Pruss began his career as a deputy sheriff at the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department after receiving a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He worked for the county for about a year before he received a fateful call from Greendale.

He was hired July 9, 1979, at age 23, and hasn't looked back since.

"It's been a pretty good ride," Pruss said.

Steps in a long career

The ride has included a variety of roles for Pruss - experiences he will never forget.

Prior to his current administrative, upper management position, he worked as a detective in plain clothes and as a patrol officer supervisor. He also was a part of the construction of a new police station.

The eight years he worked as a detective stands out most in his mind because of the independence involved and opportunity to see a case through from start to finish.

Unforgettable murder case

During his detective years, he became part of Greendale's first murder investigation, in the case of 17-year-old Jenna Gonzalez, whose body was found in the Root River in May 1993. He worked on the case with another investigative detective, Lee Kelm, and the department's current chief, Robert Dams, who led the investigation.

After months of investigating, they finally obtained a warrant to arrest the prime suspect in the case, Antonio Mendez. Pruss was the one who made the actual physical arrest. Mendez ultimately was charged with the murder, as well as other offenses.

Heart-warming police work

Despite having to deal with such cases, Pruss has maintained a positive attitude throughout his career.

"It has always been my motto (that) I would treat anybody that I dealt with the way I wanted to be treated. And it's worked well," Pruss said. "My feeling is, and always has been, that the majority of people in this world are good."

One story that stands out was a visit Pruss, near the beginning of his career, made to a house where two boys were home alone. The boys had heard a noise in the house and were scared. After checking the house, Pruss found that everything was fine. He calmed the boys down and left.

Years later, those boys unexpectedly made a visit to the Police Department to thank Pruss for what he did.

"That's a little thing that touches a person's heart," and makes him feel as if he has made a positive difference, Pruss said.

Close colleagues

Beyond the work he has done in the community, Pruss will miss the relationships he has formed with others in the department.

"I'm going to miss a lot of the people, the camaraderie of coming to work with those same people that you literally put your life on the line with," he said. "That brings you a closeness that, I think, most people don't know unless you experience it."

Pruss and Dams, who have worked together during Pruss's entire time at the department, especially have developed a close working and personal relationship.

"His expertise and training is going to be missed (and) it's going to take a lot of time to replace that experience," Dams said.

New roles

Effective Jan. 11, Lt. Bob Malasuk, who has been training under Pruss for about two months, will take over the role of captain. Sgt. Greg Daniels will be promoted to lieutenant and Chris Karczewski will be promoted to sergeant. The department is also in the process of hiring a new patrol officer.

Although Pruss said he hopes to return to the workforce in the future, he doesn't have any structured plans. For now, he is looking forward to having some time off and the opportunity to travel. He and the department will celebrate his retirement at a party on Jan. 30.