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When I ran for Sheriff in 2002, my campaign promise was to transform the Sheriff’s Dept. I promised you I would change the stance of the department from reactive to proactive, integrate technology into daily operations to increase efficiency and reduce personnel costs, create a inmate community service work program, engage with the community, reduce the response time to emergency calls, reduce crime, increase crime solving rates, and increase the safety for citizens, visitors, and department employees. Not only have we accomplished all these tasks, we have gone well above and beyond. Our successes and accomplishments were made possible due to the leadership within the department, the dedication and commitment by the employees, and the support provided by you, our customer. The following is a list and brief description of just a few of the things we are most proud of. These are all new initiatives under my administration; they did not exist prior to 2003. Most Wanted Program – In 2003 we began publishing the names and photo’s of five wanted persons monthly. We focused on those who fail to pay child support. Over 70% were taken into custody owing over $1 million in delinquent support. This program also reduced our active warrants from over 2,000 to 1,000, saving significant tax dollars. Inmate Community Service Work Crew – Inmates lying in bed all day did not sit well with me. We created a program which would allow them to donate their time/labor to local communities, civic groups, and non-profit organizations in return for a reduction in their sentence. As of June 1, 2010, a total of 705 inmates have provided 5,549 days of labor (50,000 hours), to dozens of communities and organizations, without incident. This program has also saved taxpayers $328,500 in reduced jail costs. Housing Federal Inmates – The Sheriff’s Dept. was undermanned after four unfilled patrolman positions were cut from the budget in the 2001 – 2002. This hamstrung the department at put the county at risk. In 2003 we went to work to increase revenues to get those critical positions back. We did it and gained funding for all four within one year after I took office. Since 2003, we have collected $45 million in federal revenues to pay for staff, reduce your taxes, and provide 50 full-time and 30 part-time jobs for the people of Dodge County. The Sheriff’s Dept. does not retain any of this revenue. All of it is placed into the county general fund to offset tax increases. Budget & Fiscal Responsibility – I told you we would control budgets and use technology to save tax dollars. The tax levy for Sheriff’s Department operations in 2008 was the same as it was in 2000. I have oversight of our budget and can proudly say that we have given back $3.8 million in un-liquidated funds and excess revenues. In 7/8 budgets we have had a budget surplus, assuring your county tax dollars are conserved and not abused. Jail costs – Prior to 2003, it cost you, the taxpayer, $4 million to run the jail, today it cost you ZERO! New E911 Center – In 2004 – 2005 we went on the offensive and were successful in the construction of a $1.4 million E911 Center. The new center brought the latest of technologies and equipment to the county that has allowed us to be a true E911 Center and not just a communications center. The staff aggressively pursued funding resources and was able to obtain $1.2 million from other resources to offset the costs to the county taxpayer. The new E911 Center is one of the best and most modern in the state with unmatched capabilities to ensure your safety and that of all law enforcement, fire, EMS, first responders, and emergency management. Centralized Dispatch – There are many ways law enforcement and emergency services can be more efficient and responsive. In 2005 I proposed a centralized communication center that would increase efficiencies across the county and save numerous municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, the Dodge County E911 Center is the sole dispatch center in the county, providing professional communications services to all. This has allowed cities like Horicon, Mayville, and Beaver Dam the ability to re-direct the savings to more urgent areas. Dodge County Sheriff’s Posse Volunteers – In 2008 we realized that our law enforcement officers, on a daily basis, were being tasked to complete necessary tasks but may not necessarily a task requiring a sworn law enforcement officer. We went to work and started the Posse. These 30 citizen volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to the department, completing those tasks which do not require a law enforcement officer. Examples include seat belt and speed surveys, shuttling squad cars for service, sorting mail, running errands, security checks, traffic control, and many others. Wearing distinctive clothing and operating marked squads, the Posse provides valuable visibility and service to the community. DC Emergency Management and Communications – Prior to 2003, Dodge County had an irrelevant Emergency Management Program and a radio system that jeopardized the safety of the entire first responder community. Within one-year of taking office, the county EM office was changed and new radio/paging towers were erected and upgraded so we could respond to your calls for help. New Facility – For years Sheriff’s Dept. employees worked in cramped quarters that lacked confidential interview rooms and security barriers. Thirty-two patrolmen were housed in the basement and shared one computer, eight detectives were housed in a conference room, and our evidence room lacked integrity. All this while an adjacent multi-million dollar county building (old courthouse) sat idle. In 2004 we pursued this facility, made minor renovations and moved in 2005. The move allowed us the space and facilities we needed, increased employee moral, secured our staff, and provided us everything we needed to become the successful organization we are today. Technology and Innovation – Technology improved efficiency. I promised employees we work hard to get them the equipment they needed to be safer and more effective. I promised the citizens we would provide them the technology that would save them tax dollars. Since 2003 we have added the following equipment and systems to the county, improving efficiency, effectiveness and safety to all
Educating the community and children – Being proactive means educating the community and establishing partnerships. The staff of the department has gone to great lengths to connect with all ages within the county. Examples include, Shop w/Cops, Fishing w/the Fuzz, Cops’ N Bobbers, Fatal Vision, Special Olympics, 911 tele-communicator, Child ID’s, and Child Safety Seat inspections are just a few. We have also established and maintained communication with the citizens via bi-weekly columns written by myself, media releases to educate and warn of criminal offenses, scams, and crime trends, as well as providing media access to our daily logs. Partnership with local departments – We incorporated officers from local law enforcement agencies into our SWAT Team and our drug investigation unit. We understand and value the consolidation and pooling of resources, both operationally and for training. Currently we are providing staffs that are assisting several local departments with Mobile Data Computers and electronic citations. Other initiatives started since 2003 include – Full-time Recreation Officer, Boat, snowmobile and ATV Patrols, Inmate Sewing Program, Opened and expanded the old jail, Youth Explorer Program, Citizen Surveys, Crime Prevention Fund, Adopt-a-Township Program, WeTip Crime Line, Quadrant System, Traffic Enforcement standards, Mobile Command Post, Police Sketch Artist, Employee performance evaluations and surveys, Civilian evidence custodian and more. |
