PORTAGE, Wis. (WKOW) -- A Portage police officer is back on the job, two years after he and two of his colleagues were fired while under investigation for remarks they made.

Officers Ben Oetzman and Craig Crary and administrative assistant Casey Crary were fired from the department in 2023 after being heard threatening to burn down a person's home in a video.

Portage Police Chief Keith Klafke took swift action when he was made aware of the situation and told 27 News he stood by the decision he made two years ago.

But now, Klafke is reversing that decision, swearing Oetzman back into the department on Monday.

"Ben, he faced severe consequences two years ago for his actions, but he took accountability for that," Klafke said. "He knows my expectations for him to succeed at this departmen

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