Committee upholds removal of Bob's Towing from Appleton towing rotation after audit and dispatch audio

The City of Appleton Safety & Licensing Committee voted 3–0 on March 25 to uphold the Appleton Police Department’s decision to remove Max Towing LLC, doing business as Bob’s Towing, from the APD rotating tow list following a police audit and multiple dispatch recordings the department said demonstrate unprofessional conduct and inconsistent availability.

Lieutenant Ostermeyer and Sergeant Beese explained the department’s review of calls and conduct. Sergeant Beese summarized an audit showing Bob’s was offered 42 tows and responded to 22, a roughly 52% acceptance rate, and said that other vendors responded at higher rates. Beese also played dispatch audio in which the department’s telecommunications staff reported repeated lengthy, argumentative calls with a Bob’s driver, and presented an email from the county dispatch director urging removal or suspension.

“Based on the information presented here, I think that the removal of Bob's Towing from the list due to lack of oversight and significant violations, is appropriate,” Sergeant Beese told the committee.

Owner Keith Ristow, who appealed the department’s decision, apologized for the driver’s conduct and described steps he said the company has taken: he said the driver (Tyler) will no longer speak directly to dispatch and that Ristow now routes all dispatch communications through him. “First off, I do apologize for Tyler’s behavior,” Ristow told the committee, and said personnel records reflect the incidents and corrective actions.

Committee members weighed police evidence against the impact on a small business. Alder Denise Fenton moved to uphold the removal; a committee member seconded, and the motion carried 3–0. Chair Chris Croat said the action will be forwarded as a recommendation to the full City Council for final consideration at its next meeting.

Police cited portions of the municipal code governing the towing list (chapter 9 and ordinance language discussed in committee) and referenced state traffic statutes (347.12 and 347.26) in relation to conduct alleged in the audio (improper use of tow lights, aggressive driving reported in an outside‑of‑call incident). The police presented copies of dispatch emails and multiple call recordings as supporting evidence; the dispatch director’s email noted that dispatchers were increasingly reluctant to contact Bob’s Towing because they frequently decline calls or require long, unproductive phone interactions.

The committee’s vote was procedural recommendation (3–0) to the council; removal from the list is not necessarily permanent — companies may reapply and the police department retains discretion on subsequent approvals.

Speakers of record: Sergeant Beese and Lieutenant Ostermeyer presented the police case; Keith Ristow represented Bob’s Towing; Alder Denise Fenton moved the motion; the committee chair was Chris Croat. The record shows the committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the full City Council for a final decision.