The Pleasant Prairie Police Department was formally established in 1971 by the Pleasant Prairie Town Board, replacing the township’s constable system, which had previously been responsible for enforcing ordinances and investigating non-criminal offenses. The newly formed department began as a five-member, part-time police force, succeeding the former three-person Pleasant Prairie Township Constables. Leonard Clark, who had served the community as a township constable for 18 years, was appointed as the first Chief of Police in April 1971 until his departure in November 1976.

In its earliest years, the municipal police force carried out duties similar to those of the constables; however, the establishment of a formal agency provided officers with expanded enforcement authority. Officers wore official badges and arm patches identifying them as members of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department, marking the community’s transition to a modern municipal policing model.

Carl Olsen was appointed as the second Chief of Police and served in this position from May 1977 until August 1979. Town Chairman C. Tom Wood assumed the Interim Chief of Police role from August 1979 until March 1980.

Raymond Gram became the third Chief of Police serving from March 1980 until September 1984. Under Chief Gram’s leadership, the department expanded operations and achieved 24-hour coverage with four full-time officers, supplemented by part-time personnel.

Sergeant Blair Boyle served as Interim Chief of Police from September 1984 until February 1985, when James Horvath was appointed as the department’s fourth Chief of Police. He began his law enforcement career with the Racine Police Department in 1967 and later served as Chief of Police for the City of Brillion, Wisconsin. He led the Pleasant Prairie Police Department until his retirement in December 2000.

In December 2000, Brian Wagner succeeded Chief Horvath as the department’s fifth Chief of Police. He joined the department in 1981 as one of its first full-time officers and rose through the ranks during his career. He served as Chief until his retirement in July 2012. Following his retirement, Deputy Chief David Mogensen served as Interim Chief of Police from July 2012 until January 2013.

In January 2013, David B. Smetana was sworn in as Pleasant Prairie’s sixth Chief of Police, bringing nearly three decades of law enforcement experience from the City of Racine Police Department. Chief Smetana prioritized strengthening the department’s preparedness, training, and operational capabilities. Through collaboration with village residents and the Friends of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department Foundation, the agency acquired modern equipment and technology. During this time, Pleasant Prairie became one of the first police agencies in Wisconsin to be fully equipped with body-worn camera systems and transitioned to Chevrolet Tahoe police SUVs to enhance operational capacity and reliability during inclement weather.

April 30, 2021, marked the department’s 50th anniversary, recognizing five decades of dedicated service to the community. Over the years, the department has evolved significantly in both size and capability to meet the needs of a growing and dynamic village.

During Chief Smetana’s tenure, Pleasant Prairie emerged as one of the most sought-after communities in the region. The passage of a public safety referendum in 2023 expanded staffing to 40 sworn officers, and in 2024 the department moved into a new, state-of-the-art police facility located at 10111 39th Avenue, designed to support modern policing for years to come.

In January 2026, David Selvidge was appointed as the department’s seventh Chief of Police. Chief Selvidge joined the Pleasant Prairie Police Department after a distinguished career with the City of Chandler, Arizona Police Department, where he began serving in 2000. His leadership background includes operational command, officer development, and oversight of specialized units such as SWAT, K-9, and detention services.

Today, the Pleasant Prairie Police Department provides 24-hour police services to approximately 22,500 residents across nearly 34 square miles. Officers receive extensive training in specialized fields including evidence collection and crime processing, major crash investigations, impaired driving enforcement, death investigations, and human trafficking cases. The department also maintains certified small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) drone pilots to enhance investigative and emergency response capabilities. Specialized assignments include the Detective Bureau, SWAT, K-9 operations, motorcycle enforcement, and hostage negotiation. Patrol operations utilize a mixed fleet of Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer police vehicles, along with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle used for traffic enforcement and special events.

Building upon more than 50 years of service, the Pleasant Prairie Police Department remains committed to being a model of excellence in policing by fostering strong community partnerships and serving with professionalism, competence, and compassion.