Police Chief Moen resigning from village of Trempealeau post

The Village of Trempealeau Police Department will soon begin its search for a new leader. 

Current chief Tim Moen made the “very difficult” decision to leave the department for a career change, he told the Times last week.

Moen will still be a village employee, taking an apprenticeship as a lineman with the municipality’s power utility. He wasn’t actively looking to leave law enforcement, Moen said, but he has always had an interest working as a lineman and this job lets him stay in Trempealeau.

“It’s been kind of a longtime interest of mine truthfully, so more or less the stars kind of aligned,” he said. “The Village of Trempealeau is my home, it’s my place, it’s where I want to be and where I want to stay. It’s just an incredible opportunity that opened itself.”

Moen was hired as an intern in Trempealeau back in 2012 and was sworn in as an officer a year later. He has served as chief since September of 2019.

Moen’s last day with the department will be May 1, and a public safety committee meeting on Monday was set to decide who will act as interim chief in his place. The village plans to post the job opening soon after that meeting, according to discussions at last Thursday’s village board meeting.

Moen is joining the utility because he has had a growing interest over the last several years after talking with members of the utility. With a college degree in criminal justice and police training, it was hard for him to ever be qualified for such a job.

The village’s apprenticeship position, however, will give Moen that training and qualification.

“It was one of those things that was always kind of out of reach just because of my training and background, but this opportunity is going to change that for me,” he said.

Though he is excited for his new opportunity, Moen said he will miss being out in the community that has given him too much to thank them for. He said it was a hard decision to leave the department, adding that his time in the department has given him memories he will forever be grateful for.

“It’s been an absolute privilege and one of the greatest experiences of my life,” to be chief, Moen said. “This is my home, so the ability to really put in my all and give back to the community that’s given so much to me, it’s been a huge honor for me.”

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