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his career in the Marine Corps.
Assignment duties within the
department progressed from Patrol
Officer, Narcotics Task Force Officer,
PORT Officer, Patrol Sergeant,
to Detective Sergeant. Special
assignments included Team Leader
for the Natrona County Special
Response Team, Police Sniper, Field
Training Officer and Physical Fitness
Specialist/Coordinator.
Called to duty in June of 2004
as a Marine Corps Captain and
Platoon Commander of a Reserve
reconnaissance platoon, Wetzel
deployed to the Al Anbar Province,
Iraq. As a Marine Corps Major in
2005, Wetzel then transferred to
an Individual Ready Reserve and
resumed Casper Police Department
service as a Narcotics Task Force
Officer.
Personally requested in 2007,
Wetzel returned to active duty
taking a leave of absence from the
Casper Police Department and
reporting to the Marine Special
Operations Advisor Group. Major
Wetzel served as a Marine Special
Operations Team Leader and
Regional Company Commander
in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In 2011, he was promoted to
Lieutenant Colonel.
Returning to the Casper Police
Department, Wetzel’s advancements
culminated in being designated
Chief of Police of the Casper
Police Department in February
2014. He has acquired civilian
as well as military ribbons and
accommodations reflecting duty
and sacrifice. Marine Corps
decorations include the Bronze
Star with Combat ‘V,’ the Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal
and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Police department decorations
include US Department of Justice
Commendation from the U.S.
Attorney, District of Wyoming,
Meritorious Service Commendation,
and many letters of commendation.
As opposed to Lone Ranger days,
strangers traveling to the West no
longer join bands of citizens to form
a posse in order to support the law.
Instead, a smooth running machine
of men and women maintain the
balance between those on either side
of justice. Overseeing the city of
Casper, home to a diverse population
of over 60,000 individuals, is one
outstanding man, a true lawman of
the west and hero of his country. WL M
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