UWO Police Chief Tarmann to be honored for his volunteer efforts, energy and leadership

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Police Chief Chris Tarmann, of Neenah, a 2014 graduate with a degree in human services leadership, will be presented with a 2024 UWO Outstanding Alumni Service Award on Homecoming weekend this fall.

During his 15 years with the UWO Police Department, Tarmann has worked to foster relationships between the UWOPD, the campus community and the community at large.

"Chief Tarmann seldom misses an opportunity to offer assistance to other University departments and organizations so their functions or events can run smoothly," UWO Police Lt. Greg Weitz said. "By consistently working to improve these relationships, Chief Tarmann has put our department in a position where community members are familiar and comfortable with our officers; many UWO students know our officers by name."

Tarmann co-created the popular Run with the Cops, an annual event that has raised nearly $½ million for the Special Olympics Wisconsin in the past decade. The run has seen as many as 1,000 people coming together for a good cause.

Bryttany Biesemeier, director of development for Special Olympics Wisconsin, marvels at Tarmann's work ethic.

"His ability to work efficiently under stressful conditions and nerve-wracking deadlines speaks volumes to his hard work and determination," she said, adding that Tarmann puts in countless hours planning the run route each year, jumping through bureaucratic hoops to secure the needed approvals. "Chris' ability to move mountains for his passion and mission-driven work is unlike any other I have seen before."

Jennifer Skolaski, facilitator of Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review team, of which Tarmann is a member, has seen Tarmann's handiwork in many community projects.

"I have watched Chris go above and beyond in so many situations that I've lost count," she said. "I have been in rooms where he's spoken up to advocate for those without voices or those who don't have a place at the table, that I have left many meetings in tears because I've been inspired by what he has done and said."

Tarmann, Skolaski said, was instrumental in starting the Narcan program at UW Oshkosh, which provided free Narcan and training to the campus community.

He has initiated many efforts at the university and his community.

Tarmann helped create the We Heart You mobile app, which connects to substance abuse resources and assistance for people of Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. He also created Wisconsin Law Enforcement Guardians, a free mobile app that provides 24/7/365 wellness resources for law enforcement in Wisconsin. Currently, there are nearly 5,000 law enforcement professionals using the app.

Tarmann has brought a national active threat response conference to UWO and is a nationally recognized instructor.

He said he'll never forget being selected and experiencing the opportunity to run with law enforcement personnel from across the country to carry the torch for the Special Olympics USA Games in Florida in 2022.

After graduating from the criminal justice program at Fox Valley Technical College in 2005, Tarmann worked as a police officer for the Winneconne and the Montello police departments. He then served as a deputy and 911 operator for the Marquette County Sheriff's Office before coming to UWO.

Tarmann, who had early experience as a UWO student Community Service Officer, was hired as a UWO police officer in 2008 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2011. He was appointed acting police chief in June 2022, as Chief Kurt Leibold was appointed to another leadership role on campus. Tarmann was sworn in as chief in December 2023.

Tarmann completed his bachelor's degree in human services at UWO in 2014 and graduated in 2021 from the Wisconsin Command College-an in-residence, six-week nationally accredited leadership and development training program.

During the early days of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Tarmann and other law officers were deemed essential workers and worked in-person on campus while most went home to shelter in place. Despite the rising deaths globally, Tarmann was unshaken in doing what he had to do.

His willingness to do what was needed was defined in Campus COVID Stories, a multimedia project about the pandemic. His comments in 2022 for the book, brought him back to his hiring at UWO:

"It was January of 2008. I walked into the old police department on Rockwell Avenue and High for my interview to be a police officer here. A group of people interviewed me, and they gave me a chance. I think about that regularly. Somebody, almost 14 years ago, gave me an opportunity to work here at UW Oshkosh. So, it doesn't matter if it's a virus or a dangerous person or a tornado or whatever, I'm going to step into it, I'm going to do whatever it takes. I signed up to be whatever this place needs me to be to help keep people safe."

The UW Oshkosh Alumni Association will celebrate the talents and successes of 13 alumni during Homecoming weekend Oct. 18-19. There are two, including Tarmann, receiving the Alumni Outstanding Service Award, seven being honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award and four receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Learn more:

International studies, political science alumna Dahse earns 2024 UWO Outstanding Young Alumni Award

UW Oshkosh nursing alumnus Carter to be honored with 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award

13 UWO alumni to be honored at Alumni Awards Celebration Homecoming weekend

UW Oshkosh Homecoming

UWO Alumni Relations

UWO medical technology alumna Nussbaum earns Outstanding Young Alumni Award

UWO radio TV film alumnus Freitag to be honored with Distinguished Alumni Award

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