I’m proud of the work we accomplish at the Sheriff’s Office every single day and I’m excited to share with you how we accomplished every campaign promise I made four years ago. Not only did we accomplish each campaign promise – we far exceeded those goals by accomplishing much more.
Combating Drugs in our Community
Below are my 2022 campaign pledges and the corresponding achievements from my second term.
2022 Campaign Pledge
What We Achieved
Grow the K9 program to further expand our ability to locate illegal drugs on our streets, in our schools, in our community and smuggled into our jail and local prisons.
Our K9s have proven invaluable in our efforts to locate drugs, and expanding the program will provide even more coverage on patrol shifts.
Progression of K9 Unit Growth in the Sheriff's Office:
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When I took office in 2019 we had one K9
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In my first term we grew that from one to three
K9 teams
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During my second term we expanded even further from three to six K9 teams within the office; more than any time in the history of the sheriff's office!
The Fond du Lac County K9 Team is very highly respected across the entire state of Wisconsin because of the proven value and accomplishments of our program. The K9s are trained in multiple disciplines and are not only used for drug detection, but also for suspect apprehension and protection of their handler as well as assisting with finding lost and missing persons.
Our K9 program continues to be 100% donor and grant funded by community residents and businesses!
We now have 3 certified DRE’s, combined with 29 deputies certified in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), all of whom possess advanced training in the detection of drugged driving on our highways.
K9 Ace
K9 Boom
K9 Cohl
K9 Iro
K9 Kubo
K9 Rip
Continue collaboration with the Drug Court Program, providing low level offenders the opportunity to change their lives and make better decisions in the future, while still holding them accountable for their past actions.
Although the County has chosen to phase out the Drug Court Program, we have continued to support individuals working through the process and look forward to supporting any new initiatives established by our criminal justice system.
Institute a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program in our jail utilizing a $150,000 grant awarded to our county. Inmates suffering from opioid and/or alcohol addiction will be eligible to participate in this program where the prescription medication Vivitrol is administered to combat their addiction and reduce chances of relapse upon release from jail.
We added an opioid grant funded correctional deputy position whose responsibility is to act as a liaison between the jail inmate population suffering from addiction and the treatment and recovery services provided by the Department of Human Services and Public Health.
The collaborative goal of this program is to get inmates the treatment they need to break the addiction while incarcerated and set them up for success upon release from jail.
Assist the Drug Free Communities program with the implementation of new initiatives they are proposing to combat drug and alcohol abuse in Fond du Lac County.
In support of the Drug Free Communities program and mission, the Sheriff's Office has conducted community training sessions on the dangers of alcohol, prescription and illegal drug and tobacco use.
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The Sheriff's Office also coordinates with local committees to ensure compliance with laws related to sale of these items to our youth.
Utilize settlement funds awarded to Fond du Lac County from our lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. These funds will expand treatment opportunities for those addicted to drugs in our community, and particularly for those in our jail.
A portion of these funds were allocated to create a new dedicated detective position whose sole focus is education about, and investigation of, opioid related addiction and crime.
Centralizing these responsibilities within this new role, allows other detectives to return their focus to investigation of non-drug related crimes occurring in our community.
Mental Health
2022 Campaign Pledge
What We Achieved
Embed a psychiatric social worker into the Sheriff’s Office for the first time ever. This social worker will collaborate with Sheriff's Office staff as well as law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Working together, they will provide assistance to those in crisis sooner by aligning them with services that will help them through the struggles they face.
K9 Josie
We now have a social worker who is based out of the Sheriff's Office, allowing her direct and daily contact with the patrol and correctional deputies. She responds with deputies to the scene of crisis calls throughout the county and conducts in-home follow-up visits with clients receiving care.
With the continued success of our K9 program, and recognizing the benefits a service animal can bring to those suffering from mental health disorders as well as victims of crimes, we secured donor funding to purchase K9 Josie who is paired full time with the social worker.
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K9 Josie responds to calls alongside the social worker to deescalate tense situations, comfort victims of unexpected tragedies and provide valuable stress relief after critical incidents.
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Grow the Release Advance Planning (RAP) Program in our jail, which connects inmates to services they will need to maintain a stable lifestyle and avoid repeat offenses upon release.
Services provided by the RAP program have been integrated into the Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program and a new initiative, 'Bridges to Recovery,' both of which provide services to inmates with the ultimate goal of reducing addiction relapse and ending criminal recidivism.
Highway Safety
2022 Campaign Pledge
What We Achieved
Increase the number of radar trailer sign boards deployed around the county. These devices alert drivers to their speed on roadways prone to excessive speeding or in high-crash areas. Residents can request the radar trailer be placed in their neighborhoods, and having three will allow us to fulfill all the requests quicker.
Two additional radar trailers were added to the fleet bringing the total to three. These additional trailers were grant funded and are deployed throughout the county in areas prone to speeding. Citizens who witness excessive speeding in their neighborhoods can request the radar trailer be placed there for a period of time.
Expand our Crash Reconstruction Team capabilities through the use of new and cutting edge technology which will allow the team to gather evidence at fatal crash scenes faster, get highways re-opened sooner, and ultimately build stronger cases against those who have injured or killed innocent victims.
Our crash reconstruction team now utilizes drones and precision GPS based devices to obtain detailed measurements and three dimensional imagery of crash and crime scenes, in addition to the traditional methods and laser equipment used previously.
Utilize new data analysis software to predict future crash locations based on historical crash data. We can use this data to preemptively deploy additional high visibility patrols to these areas in an effort to prevent crashes before they occur.
Department of Transportation (DOT) based Community Maps software provides more crash related analytical data than ever before. This data is used to identify dangerous intersections or sections of highway that require intensive enforcement efforts.
The Sheriff's Office then partners with highway engineers to develop improvement opportunities to highway design.
Fond du Lac County Jail
Employee Retention & Recruiting
2022 Campaign Pledge
What We Achieved
The core of the Fond du Lac County jail was built in 1956 and has housed inmates every day since. The county board has expanded the jail three times since 1956, however due to aging infrastructure, and inadequate space for medical, mental health, detox, and other inmate classification housing options, the county board has begun the process of planning for the future.
A careful and thorough analysis of all aspects of the current jail and operation should be completed, and community input gathered. By starting now, the county has time to plan and budget appropriately, make sound decisions, and not be forced into rushed or costly decisions due to capacity constraints or failing infrastructure.
An ad hoc committee comprised of local members of the community was convened to look at the jail study and make a recommendation for how to address the deficiencies within the current jail.
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To evaluate all options, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was sent out to design firms in December of 2025 to obtain pricing for the initial schematic designs. Then in early 2026 the County Board awarded the bid to Venture Architects, a Wisconsin based company who specializes in jail, corrections and justice facility design.
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In conjunction with the schematic design, the County Board also contracted with an independent consultant who specializes in the data and analytics of jail populations to help guide the board and the architect on the size jail Fond du Lac County should be considering for future needs.
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Once schematic designs are completed, initial construction estimates can be completed. At that time public listening sessions will be held to share the options and associated costs, gather feedback, and answer any questions county residents may have.
2022 Campaign Pledge
What We Achieved
Continue to advocate for appropriate pay, top notch equipment for our employees to do their job safely and effectively, and continue to have their backs, especially when they are forced to take necessary action to protect themselves or others.  
During my current term, the Fond du Lac County Board approved the results of a county-wide employee wage study. This independent study showed wages of many positions throughout county government were below that of comparable counties, and adjustments were made.
Additionally, we have expanded the Peer Support Group and secured grant and donor funds to support our employee health and wellness initiatives including annual mental health wellness checks and the addition of a workout area to maintain physical health, among other initiatives.
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The Sheriff's Office also continues to participate in job fairs and recruitment events to find qualified candidates interested in a career in criminal justice. We also utilize social media to share with potential candidates the great work and tremendous community support our deputies and Sheriff's Office have in Fond du Lac County.
Do What You Promised
Keep Your Word
Exceed Expectations!
As your sheriff, my goal isn’t to just meet your expectations . . . it’s to exceed them.
Click on the categories below to see examples of accomplishments that exceeded the goals we set forth in 2022.
Equipment Upgrades & Emergency Preparedness
The safety of our community and deputies continues to be one of the Sheriff's Office top priorities. New advancements in technology provide added safety measures for our deputies while also enhancing transparency in policing for the public we serve. Below are some examples of upgrades made this term that better prepare our teams to protect and serve
Fond du Lac County.
Personal Deputy Equipment
Specialized Equipment
Training Facility
Body Worn Cameras
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New technology allows all body, squad, and drone cameras to live-stream video directly to special teams leaders, supervisors, administrators, and others who are not on the scene of a critical incident, but who are working to mitigate the situation.
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Decision makers can see the scene 'LIVE' through the eyes of the front-line responders and make informed decisions to get other resources and personnel headed to the situation quicker than ever before. 
Uniform Upgrades
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Through donor funds, we transitioned from old-school traditional uniforms from the 1960’s to a modern-day professional, yet practical, uniform. The new uniforms, issued to both correctional and patrol deputies, are more economical, comfortable, functional, and safer for deputies working the front lines in both the jail and outdoor environments, while still maintaining a professional and easily identifiable image.
Robot
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In 2025 we replaced the first tactical robot our sheriff’s office ever owned, after it failed and parts were no longer available.
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The new robot can climb stairs, open doors, pick up or move objects, and communicate with suspects. It is much safer doing these things with a robot than a deputy at dangerous scenes or situations.
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Less Lethal Munitions
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All supervisor squads are now equipped with less lethal shotguns that can deploy non-deadly munitions such as “bean bag” rounds and gas/OC rounds at suspects. These are used in an attempt to gain voluntary compliance in situations where the suspect refuses to comply or surrender.
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Prior to equipping supervisor squads with these munitions, a supervisor or deputy would have to respond to the sheriff’s office in Fond du Lac, pick up the equipment, and transport it to the scene, which took a lot of time. Now these life-saving munitions can arrive on scene much quicker and help resolve situations faster and safer than ever before. ​​
Public Safety Training Facility
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When the UW system announced the closure of our local campus, we assisted the county in the initial start-up and organization of a county-wide public safety training center. This is a free training facility for any emergency service agency from within our county to utilize, and fee based for agencies outside the county. 
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This facility includes a shoot house and rooms set up for realistic scenario-based training, padded defensive tactics room, a mock jail dorm and cells, virtual reality goggles, and classrooms.  Moraine Park Technical College partnered with the county to host a jail academy training at this site which allowed us the opportunity to have our correctional deputies trained locally rather than in Appleton or beyond, saving travel time and money.
Special Vehicles Additions
Command Post
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In 2025, we took delivery of a new mobile command post. This vehicle replaced a 40-year-old vehicle and will serve as a mobile command and communications center for decades to come. This dual-purpose vehicle saved taxpayer money as we no longer have to renovate and update the antiquated backup dispatch center located at the fairgrounds, and instead integrated our backup dispatch center into this mobile unit. This allows us more flexibility in the event of a significant emergency or disaster that takes our primary center out of service. This command post also responds to critical incidents such as SWAT calls, dive/water rescues, major crime scenes, or other situations involving significant numbers of emergency personnel for extended durations. Our command post is available for use to any public safety agency in the county, including law enforcement, fire and EMS.
Dive Team Trailer
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In 2024, we took delivery of a dive trailer customized to meet the needs of our water rescue dive team. This trailer, which replaced a 40-year-old dive vehicle, provided more space for modern dive equipment and was more cost effective than a single purpose specialized vehicle.
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​Mobile Digital Forensic Van
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In 2025, we took delivery of a mobile digital forensic van. This vehicle serves several purposes for the sheriff’s office, including response to crime scenes, crash scenes, incidents involving drone deployment, and search warrants, among other technology-intensive incidents. Deputies use this vehicle to analyze digital evidence such as computers and cell phones while on a scene, fly drones during searches for suspects or missing persons, and perform a multitude of other technological functions while deployed in the field.
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