Chief Brandimore actually retired from the detroit p-d after serving 26 years there.
Friday(9/30/05), the chief met up with friends to reminisce about his years here.
From now on, his family, hunting, fishing and coin collecting will take up his time.
But he says he feels good about the shape the department is in, "trying to promote the very best people and let them go to town and do the best they can, empower them to do things. They're doing that, and i think that's one thing i'd selfishly take credit for."
Lt. Dennis Saager says "I know right now we're on the map. When agencies throughout the state talk about components of a police department, training, selection, the Wausau Police Department comes up."
But even in retirement, Brandimore says a couple of cases will haunt him.
In January 1998, a young woman was found beaten to death in a pool of blood at a Wausau laundromat.
Through fingerprints and footprints, the Wausau PD was able to help convict Ken Knipple of the crime.
And in 1999 Rhonda Mertes was found beaten to death in downtown Wausau.
Her killer still has not been brought to justice.
But brandimore says he has renewed hope that mystery will be solved, as the department has called in the state's Cold Case Department for a fresh look at the evidence.