For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: February 10, 2026
Criminal Justice students train for service
Timmerman and Kueter planning to work for hometown departments
Fennimore -Two Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students completing the Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement program are already seeing their career goals come into focus as they train in the college’s Law Enforcement Academy.
Ryan Kueter and Caden Timmerman are finishing their associate degrees while completing academy training, a distinctive feature of Southwest Tech’s Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement program that allows students to earn both an academic credential and law enforcement certification as part of the same pathway.
Kueter, Platteville, Wisconsin, who grew up in a military family and spent much of his childhood in Washington, D.C., said his upbringing strongly influenced his decision to pursue law enforcement. “I always respected and admired the men and women who serve in roles like the military, first responders and law enforcement,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be one of those people.”
Kueter began the Criminal Justice program in fall 2024 and said the curriculum quickly moved beyond surface-level understanding of police work. Courses emphasize criminal law, constitutional law, officer responsibilities and the practical application of knowledge through scenario-based training. “You really learn not just what people see on the outside, but what goes into calls, responses and doing the job the right way,” he said. “You have to know the law, your role as an officer, and the rights of the people you serve.”
Now completing the academy portion of his education, Kueter is finalizing employment with the Platteville Police Department and plans to begin field training immediately after graduation. Long-term, he hopes to pursue tactical and investigative roles within law enforcement.
Timmerman, a Lancaster, Wisconsin native, said his interest in criminal justice began at a young age and was reinforced through ride-alongs, internships and early work experience.
During high school, Timmerman completed a ride-along with a local agency, interned with Grant County Emergency Management and later worked as a 911 dispatcher with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. “Those experiences really solidified that this was the career I wanted,” he said.
Timmerman started the Criminal Justice program in fall 2024 and is now in his final semester, completing the Law Enforcement Academy. He has already been hired by the Lancaster Police Department, which is sponsoring his academy training.
He said the program’s balance of hands-on skills and classroom instruction has been critical to his preparation. “We learn tactical skills like firearms and handcuffing, but we also spend a lot of time on the Constitution and the law,” said Timmerman. “Tying those things together is what’s going to make us better officers.
Both students emphasized the impact of instructors who bring real-world experience into the classroom and are invested in student success. “I didn’t used to enjoy school,” said Timmerman. “That changed here because I know what I’m learning will actually be used in my career.”
Southwest Tech’s Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement program is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce, with academy training integrated into the associate degree.
More information about the program is available at swtc.edu/publicsafety.
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. The college was named the winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2025. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |