The faces of chiefs line the walls of Chippewa Falls Police Department. Dating back to 1893, they've all been the faces of men… Until Tuesday. Lt. Wendy Stelter was the first woman hired to be police chief, bringing a new face of law enforcement to the city.

"As more and more people mention it, I sit and say, ‘I guess you're right.’ In law enforcement it certainly is making history especially for our area. I'm very humbled and honored to be the first female," Lt. Stelter says.

Stelter says she always chose not to focus on the fact that she's a woman and concentrate on being simply the best she can. People we talked to say as long as she does just that—it doesn't matter if it’s a man or a woman walking in the department doors as chief. Stelter says she doesn’t plan to make any immediate changes as chief.

"It is my responsibility to get to know the culture and learn how and why things are done here," Stelter says.

Lt. Stelter spent the past 24 years working her way up the ranks with the Menomonie Police Department. She was in the process of moving on to a chief role at the same time the former Menomonie police chief was in the process of resigning.

"What I took from that is that a community will embrace a chief, a department or both. The community really embraced the department in Menomonie when they recognized (the officers) had concerns. Don't ever forget your community," Stelter says.

Now, the soon to be chief who grew up on a Chippewa County farm says she's looking forward to getting reacquainted with the community.

"It's like I’m back home again," Stelter says with a smile.

Lt. Stelter will be sworn in as chief on April 26. She plans to move to Chippewa Falls as soon as she can. She'll make $76,400 a year.