PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Nine months after leaving a distinguished 25-year law enforcement career in Arizona to become Pleasant Prairie’s newest police chief, David Selvidge is settling into his new community, earning high marks from Village President Dave Klimisch and introducing technology that is already helping officers stop fleeing suspects while reducing the risks associated with dangerous police pursuits. On Wednesday morning, Kenosha County Eye had the pleasure of visiting Selvidge in his office at the Pleasant Prairie Police Department for a conversation about his transition, his leadership philosophy and one of the department’s most talked-about new tools: the Grappler Police Bumper.

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Selvidge, who officially took command on January 19, 2026, succeeded longtime Chief David Smetana. Although he arrived from Chandler, Arizona, with an extensive résumé that included SWAT command, K9 operations, tactical instruction and graduation from the prestigious FBI National Academy, Selvidge has approached his new position with an emphasis on listening, learning and supporting the officers already serving Pleasant Prairie.

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The chief’s office offers a glimpse into his professional history. A collection of badges from his years in Arizona, along with photographs and recognition from his tactical assignments, serves as a reminder of a career that began long before his move to Wisconsin.

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Selvidge told KCE that he was attracted to Pleasant Prairie because of the opportunity to lead an already successful department in a community that places a high value on public safety. Rather than arriving with plans to overhaul the organization, he said his initial priority was to understand the department, develop relationships and identify opportunities for improvement.

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“My first nine months have been a rewarding learning experience,” Selvidge said. “I came into the position knowing that my first responsibility was to listen, learn, and understand the organization before making assumptions about what needed to change.”

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The chief credited the department’s officers and civilian employees for its continued success, emphasizing that any progress made during his tenure belongs to the entire organization. He also praised village officials and the Police and Fire Commission for their support of public safety.

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“I would be hesitant to point to any accomplishment during my first nine months as something I have achieved individually,” Selvidge said. “Any progress we have made is a team effort, and the credit belongs to the employees who do the work every day.”

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That approach has not gone unnoticed by Village President Dave Klimisch, who offered a glowing assessment of the new chief’s performance.

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“From my perspective as Village President, Chief Selvidge has performed very well and has met our expectations,” Klimisch told KCE. “I continue to have a great deal of confidence in the Police and Fire Commission and the thorough process they led to identify the right person for this role.”

Klimisch said Selvidge has been particularly effective at establishing relationships within the department, communicating expectations and making thoughtful decisions. He said feedback from his own conversations with officers and time spent around the department has been consistently positive.

“He has been intentional about listening, learning our community, and building trust within the department,” Klimisch said. “He is visible, he communicates clearly, and he takes the time to explain the why behind decisions.”

One of Selvidge’s most visible contributions so far has been bringing the Grappler Police Bumper to Pleasant Prairie, making the village the second law enforcement agency in Wisconsin to acquire the technology. The first was the Monona Police Department, which Selvidge said installed its system approximately two weeks before Pleasant Prairie.

The Grappler is a vehicle-mounted device that deploys a heavy-duty net around the rear tire of a fleeing vehicle, allowing police to bring it to a controlled stop without relying on traditional pursuit intervention techniques that can result in collisions, serious injuries or extensive damage to police vehicles.

Selvidge was familiar with the technology from his years in Arizona, where officers used it successfully. When he arrived in Pleasant Prairie and learned how frequently officers encounter fleeing vehicles in the region, he recognized an opportunity to provide his department with another option.

“Part of my job is to find opportunities for tools that I can provide to these men and women to make their job more efficient and honestly, you know, provide more success with less danger,” Selvidge told KCE during Wednesday’s visit.

The chief explained that the Grappler was among the first pieces of technology he considered bringing to Pleasant Prairie. Although he emphasized that others in the department were already aware of the equipment, his firsthand experience with its effectiveness helped move the idea forward.

The device has already been deployed successfully in several incidents, including one in which officers stopped a vehicle traveling approximately 50 to 60 mph. In another incident, officers used the Grappler before suspects had an opportunity to flee, preventing what the chief believed could have become another dangerous pursuit.

Selvidge explained that the department does not intend to use the device indiscriminately. Officers must have appropriate probable cause and circumstances supporting its deployment, particularly when their training and experience indicate that a suspect is likely to flee.

“We don’t want to just grapple people to grapple them,” Selvidge said. “But we also would rather grapple somebody than have them hurt somebody or kill them too. So we have to balance it.”

Beyond the obvious public safety benefits, Selvidge explained that the Grappler can also save taxpayers money.

According to the chief, a replacement Grappler net costs approximately $600, but the department receives a credit of about $200 when returning the used net. That brings the effective replacement cost to approximately $400 per deployment.

By comparison, even relatively minor damage to a police vehicle during a traditional pursuit intervention can easily exceed that amount. Selvidge pointed out that the village’s insurance deductible is higher than the cost of replacing the Grappler net, meaning the department would likely be responsible for paying those smaller repair bills anyway.

The department has also reduced the need for outside training by having Grappler representatives train several Pleasant Prairie officers as instructors. Those officers can now train additional personnel and replace deployed nets themselves, a process Selvidge said takes approximately five minutes.

For the chief, however, the greatest potential savings cannot be measured in dollars.

“You never know when that technology is going to save a life,” Selvidge said. “Because those men and women that we grappled the other night didn’t get a chance to flee. And therefore they didn’t get a chance to crash into somebody and hurt them or kill them.”

He added that the true value of preventing a potentially deadly pursuit may never be fully known.

“I genuinely believe this technology will save people’s lives and will never know it. And I’m okay with it.”

The chief acknowledged that Wisconsin winters will present a new challenge for the equipment. Although the Grappler has proven effective in warmer climates, officers will have to evaluate how it performs on snowy or icy roads, where reduced traction could make certain deployments impractical or unsafe.

Despite his administrative responsibilities, Selvidge has not entirely abandoned traditional police work. He told KCE that he still occasionally makes traffic stops and assists officers at crash scenes, including directing traffic when needed.

In fact, Selvidge acknowledged that he has personally issued at least one traffic citation since becoming chief. The motorist, he said, was traveling approximately 90 mph on Green Bay Road around 8 a.m., weaving through traffic while apparently running late to take a family member to work.

Although Selvidge said motorists he stops are generally more likely to receive a warning, that particular driver’s conduct warranted a citation.

The chief also explained why residents will frequently see him wearing a police uniform and protective vest rather than a business suit. He said he takes pride in representing the department and wants both residents and officers to know he remains ready to assist when necessary.

“I’m proud of the agency, and I want to show the agency’s uniform,” Selvidge said. “I’m not a big fan of walking around in plain clothes as a chief.”

Still, Selvidge understands that his primary responsibility is leading the organization rather than performing the duties of a patrol officer.

“My guys don’t need me out there doing their job,” he said. “They need me in here doing mine.”

Village President Klimisch believes the decision to recruit a chief from outside Wisconsin has paid off. He said the village’s selection process prioritized leadership, experience and finding the right fit for a growing community with high expectations.

“Chief Selvidge has earned my confidence in these first nine months, and I am glad he is leading the Pleasant Prairie Police Department,” Klimisch said.

For Selvidge, the transition from Arizona to Wisconsin has been about much more than learning new roads, adjusting to the weather or introducing new police equipment. He said he has been particularly impressed by the community’s support for public safety and the dedication of the people working within the department.

As he looks toward his first anniversary in January, Selvidge remains focused on building relationships, supporting his employees and preparing the department for the future.

“I inherited an excellent department, and I want to make sure that is recognized,” Selvidge said. “My job is not to take credit for the work of others. It is to support our people, provide direction, build relationships, and help position the organization for continued success.”

For Pleasant Prairie, the first nine months of its new police chief’s tenure have brought a combination of experienced leadership, new technology and a continued emphasis on community safety. And judging by the assessment of the village president, the man selected to lead the department appears to be off to a strong start.