Ex-Captain Daniel Gruebele pleaded no contest to the citation last year. His last day as the commander of the Northeast Region in Fond du Lac came days after The Badger Project reported the incident.
By Annie Pulley, THE BADGER PROJECT
Former Captain Daniel Gruebele, who was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office after his girlfriend called 911 on him last summer, is no longer the commander of the State Patrol’s Northeast Region in Fond du Lac, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. His last day employed with the State Patrol came three days after The Badger Project first reported the findings from the sheriff’s investigation.
“The separation was due to a medical incapacitation, and not your previous story,” Gruebele wrote in an online message to The Badger Project.
Gruebele did not respond to further requests for comment, nor did he clarify whether he resigned.
Gruebele’s girlfriend called 911 on the night of June 13 after she said he poured a drink on her, threw the bottle at her and kicked her out of his house, according to the report from the sheriff’s office The Badger Project obtained in a records request.
The Badger Project published a story on Dec. 16 about the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office investigation into Gruebele. At the time the first story was published, the DOT confirmed Gruebele was on leave. The DOT has since confirmed Gruebele’s last day was Dec. 19.
“Mr. Gruebele is no longer employed with the department,” the DOT said in a brief statement emailed to The Badger Project Jan. 6.
The DOT said it could not comment further.
In the report, Gruebele’s girlfriend described him as an alcoholic and noted how the two had a sadomasochistic relationship. She told deputies she often performed sexual acts to keep Gruebele from becoming angry at her. Deputies reported that they felt Gruebele’s girlfriend didn’t share the whole story in order to protect his career.
“She said that Daniel would ask her to have sex a lot, and he would get mad if she said no, and they would argue. She said she often did what he wanted because it was easier,” the investigation reads. “She stated that Daniel is a nice guy when he’s sober but ‘evil’ when he drinks.”
The deputies eventually cited Gruebele for disorderly conduct. He pleaded no contest in August and paid a fine of $263.50, according to online court records. The citation is not a criminal offense.
Gruebele, 49, worked for the Wisconsin State Patrol from 1996 to December 2025. His position meant he oversaw the State Patrol’s operations in 11 counties, including Manitowoc, Outagamie and Sheboygan.
The Badger Project is a reader-supported, independent news nonprofit in Wisconsin.
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