Singing officer, Steve Olson to retire after 26 years on the Fond du Lac Police Department

After 30 years in law enforcement and 26 years serving the City of Fond du Lac Lieutenant Steve Olson is retiring from the Fond du Lac Police Department. His career is marked not only by the positions he held, but by the compassion he brought into every role.

Steve began his full-time law enforcement journey in 1995 with the North Fond du Lac Police Department before joining the Fond du Lac Police Department in 1999. From his earliest days, Steve distinguished himself as someone who showed up for people with humility, purpose, and heart.

Over the course of his FDLPD career, Steve embraced nearly every opportunity to serve our community in meaningful ways. His assignments included Patrol, Field Training Officer, SWAT Team Sniper, Honor Guard, DARE Officer, Crime Prevention Specialist, School Resource Officer, and later, Lieutenant. In each of these roles, Steve shaped not only how we protect our community, but how we connect with it.

Steve’s work with youth, families, and schools became one of the hallmarks of his career. As a longtime School Resource Officer and past President of the Wisconsin DARE Officers Association, he built relationships that spanned generations. He was known for his positive attitude and his genuine belief that investing in young people changes the future.

Olson was also well known in the community as one of the lead singers for the band Boogie and the Yo Yoz. A position he left when he was promoted to Lieutenant in July of 2021. A transition he once thought he’d never make. But true to his character, he stepped forward when the department needed him, grounded in the belief that leadership is service.

His leadership philosophy rooted in responsibility, accountability, and lifting others up guided him every day. He modeled what it means to mentor, to listen, to empower, and to bring out the best in those around him.

Throughout his career, Steve earned numerous awards and recognitions, including multiple Distinguished Service Awards, Life Saving Award, Chief’s Merit Awards, FTO and SWAT Team Awards, Honor Guard Team Award, and the Elks Citizen of the Year recognition. These honors reflect a career defined by professionalism, community partnership, and unwavering integrity.

But beyond the awards and titles, Steve’s legacy is one of quiet impact: the student who felt heard, the Officers he trained who now train others, the family he reassured on their hardest day, the community relationships he strengthened one conversation at a time.

As Steve retires, we honor not just his years of service, but the way he served with humility and a heart for people. His influence will continue to shape the Fond du Lac Police Department for years to come, carried forward by the Officers he mentored and the community he helped build.

Congratulations, Lieutenant Olson. Thank you for 30 years of service, leadership, and heart. We wish you a retirement filled with joy, rest, and the same kindness you’ve always given to others.