Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A Kronenwetter police
officer arrested Thursday is suspected of hiring a prostitute multiple times in
a six-month time span, police say.
Jason Rasmussen, 41, was
arrested at about 6 p.m. Thursday on charges of soliciting a prostitute and
encouraging probation violations by detective supervisors with the Wausau
Police Department, according to a news release issued Monday. Rasmussen was
hired by the Kronenwetter Police Department as a part-time patrol officer in
July 2006 and was promoted to full time in July 2007, according to the
Kronenwetter Police Department website.
An investigation began April 8
when a woman approached a Wausau police officer on an unrelated call and asked
to speak with the officer privately, according to the release. The woman, whose
name was not released, told the officer she exchanged sex for money with
Rasmussen after Rasmussen responded to an ad for adult escort services she
placed on the Internet classified site Backpage.com.
The woman told police Rasmussen
first hired her as a prostitute in Green Bay, but sexual encounters for money
also took place in Wausau and Kronenwetter, according to the release. The woman
told police Rasmussen was aware she was on probation at the time the sexual
encounters took place. Investigators confirmed and verified details of several
transactions before questioning Rasmussen Thursday, police said.
Rasmussen cooperated with
police during the investigation, which was launched with the “knowledge and
full cooperation” of Kronenwetter Police Chief Dan Joling, according to the release.
Rasmussen was released shortly
after his arrest. Wausau police, citing an ongoing investigation, on Monday
declined a Daily Herald Media request for the police report.
“Any further release of
information may compromise the investigation,” Wausau Police Capt. Greg
Hagenbucher wrote in his news release.
Joling on Friday said Rasmussen
“has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into the
matter.”
Official charges are expected
to be filed in the coming days.