Secretary Frank Announces Appointments
for Division of Adult Institutions, Two Prisons
Warden Post to be Restored at Prairie
du Chien Correctional Institution, Candidate Search to Get Underway
MADISON – Department of Corrections (DOC)
Secretary Matt Frank announced today the appointments of three individuals
to new leadership roles with the Division of Adult Institutions (DAI).
Richard “Sam” Schneiter, currently the Warden of the Wisconsin Secure
Program Facility (WSPF) and the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution
(PDCI), will become Assistant DAI Administrator. WSPF Deputy Warden Peter
Huibregtse has been appointed Warden of WSPF, and a separate position of
Warden will be restored at PDCI with a candidate search to begin. In
addition, Waupun Correctional Institution (WCI) Deputy Warden Michael
Thurmer has been appointed Warden of WCI, replacing former Warden Phil
Kingston, who has retired.
“I am very pleased to announce the
appointments of these three talented individuals to their new leadership
roles with the Department,” Secretary Frank said. “Their dedication and
abilities will continue to ensure the safe, secure and humane management
of inmates under the DOC’s custody, thereby advancing the Department’s
mission of community safety. In addition, the restoration of the Warden
position at PDCI, where the inmate population was expanded under
Schneiter’s leadership, reaffirms the critical role that PDCI plays in our
adult prison system.”
Schneiter has led WSPF and PDCI as Warden
since March 2005. Prior to that, he was DAI’s Security Chief since August
1998. Schneiter began his career in state service as Correctional Officer
at WCI in May 1977, where he advanced to the role of Sergeant in April
1978 and served as Lieutenant from 1983 to 1986. He was promoted to
Captain at the Oshkosh Correctional Institution (OSCI) in August 1986 and
served in the same capacity at the Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI)
starting in February 1987. He was promoted to Major at the Green Bay
Correctional Institution (GBCI) in June 1992. In May 1993, he was promoted
to Institution Security Director at CCI and held that role until his
appointment as DAI Security Chief. He replaces John Bett, who was
appointed earlier this year to DAI Administrator. Schneiter was a member
of the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 1975 to 1981, and he was a
certified part-time police officer with the village of Randolph for 10
years.
Huibregtse began his corrections career in
February 1978 as a Youth Counselor at Lincoln Hills School (LHS). He
worked at Ethan Allen School (EAS) in 1982 and 1983 and in April of that
year, he moved over to the Wisconsin Correctional Center System (WCCS),
where he worked at what is now the Thompson Correctional Center (TCC) and
the Oregon Correctional Center (OCC). He also was an Inmate Complaint
Examiner at WCI. Huibregtse helped to open CCI in 1986 and worked there
as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Unit Manager. In 1996, Huibregtse
promoted to Security Director at WCI. In 2000 he promoted to Deputy Warden
at WSPF.
Huibregtse earned a bachelor’s degree in
Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Thurmer began his corrections career in
1978 at Central State Hospital and transferred to Dodge Correctional
Institution (DCI) during Central State’s transition to a correctional
facility. He served as Correctional Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant at
DCI until 1996. Mike then transferred to the position of Training
Supervisor at Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution (KMCI). While there,
he moved into the position of Administrative Captain and promoted to to
Security Director in 2000. In 2001 Mike became KMCI’s first Deputy Warden
and he transferred his present position of Deputy Warden at WCI. Thurmer
is the current President of the Dodge County Executive Law Enforcement
Association. He is the past president of the United States Deputy
Warden’s Association and chaired the national conference committee that
Wisconsin hosted in 2005. Thurmer has a long history of working with
community youth sports organizations and the Waupun Hockey Association,
which he held the position of Vice President for 12 years. Mike is also a
member of the Waupun Lions Club where he holds the position of 3rd Vice
President.
All three appointments take effect April
15, 2007.
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04/12/2007
