Hello! My name is Joe, and I am the owner and founder of a security training and consulting business called CFR Defense. I am a 16-year veteran of the La Crosse Police Department in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I have served 10 years in a supervisory capacity as a Sergeant within the patrol division. My roles at LCPD have included serving as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer and Patrol Sergeant.

Prior to my law enforcement career, I dedicated over 9 years to serving in the US Army (1998 to 2007). I served as a Combat Engineer (Sapper) in the esteemed 10th Mountain Division and completed three combat deployments to Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq.

Following my military service, I spent 18 months as a supervisor for a private security firm in Madison, Wisconsin. During that time, I worked with clients to identify security needs and vulnerabilities, developed and implemented comprehensive security plans tailored to client needs, and provided supervision for numerous security accounts. I then transitioned into my career with the La Crosse Police Department in 2009.

In January of 2025 I transitioned from the La Crosse Police Department into a new career at Western Technical College where I am an instructor in the Criminal Justice program and the Law Enforcement Academy.

I hold a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville complemented by studies in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

I founded my business, CFR Defense, in 2024 as an extension of my lifelong commitment to protective service because I am passionate about protecting people. One of the ways I do that is by conducting comprehensive site security surveys incorporating the principles of CPTED as well as organizational and mechanical security. Explore my website at www.cfrdefense.com and contact me today to discover how I can best serve your needs!

-Joe Wiegrefe