Police Sting Altoona Bar...At Owner's Request

By Mark Povolny
WEAU
Jul. 18, 2007

Last month in Altoona, one bar was busy with cops. A local business man set up two sting operations, at his own bar, and police were glad to help.

When people got to the front door at Whisky Dick's, bouncers took their ID’s and flashed them in front of a camera. Officers were in a security room in the basement, and ran the information on computers. Investigators say they arrested 28 people, including 15 for probation violations and 9 with active arrest warrants.

With a VIP lounge inside, a tiki bar and waterfall outside, Brad Windeshausen wants to make Whiskey Dick’s a Chippewa Valley destination, but not for everyone.

"We felt that we needed some additional help from law enforcement, because of the type of people that had come in creating some disturbances,” Windeshausen says.

Altoona sent a letter to the bar, saying it was concerned about how many calls were coming into the police department. To keep things safe, the bar brings in martial arts teachers to train employees for any situation, and has Altoona cops work with its bouncers.

"When you mix alcohol with people, you definitely want to make sure things are under control,” Windeshausen adds.

Police say they couldn’t agree more, and are happy to work with bar owners to make sure that happens. Altoona Investigator Chuck Wysocky coordinated the two weekend stings, and he says the departments will gladly get together and do it again at any bar in the area that has a problem.