An investigation by The Badger Project found the sheriff got over $20k for his K9 after quitting the trainings. The county asked him to repay it plus interest, but settled to avoid a costly legal fight.
By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT
Sheriff Walter Zuehkle has agreed to repay the county $11,087.50, half of the thousands of dollars he took in stipends for the care of his law enforcement K9 after quitting the trainings for the dog.
The Waushara County Board voted in October to require Zuehlke to repay the $22,175 he got in funds intended for the care of his K9, plus interest, which brought the total to $31,434.73.
An agreement with the then-county administrator in 2019 when Zuehlke became sheriff said he could continue receiving the stipend as long as the dog, Argo, was certified. But Zuehlke quit the trainings after he became sheriff, an investigation by The Badger Project found, later verified by the board’s own investigation. The sheriff said he moved the dog into a public relations role in his office, meeting citizens who wished to see the dog and donate to the K9 program.
After the board voted to require Zuehlke to repay the stipends plus interest, the sheriff hired an attorney who began negotiating with the county regarding the amount he would reimburse, according to a memo prepared by county attorney Ruth Zouski.
After an initial offer from the sheriff, the board first countered with a proposal to drop its request for interest on Zuehlke’s $22,175 debt, noting it was “highly unlikely” a court would award it, the memo said.
After more negotiation and discussion, the board then agreed in early February to accept half of the $22,175, or $11,087.50, to be repaid before the end of the year. That would prevent the need for a potentially expensive court battle, the board decided.
Until Zuehlke’s term runs out at the end of the year, the county will deduct $461.98 from his paychecks, according to the agreement the sheriff, the board chair and the county administrator signed.
The Waushara County Sheriff is making a 2026 salary of $108,252.09, which is set by the county board, said County Administrator Megan Kapp.
The county board initially referred the matter to the Wisconsin Attorney General to investigate for potential crimes, but that office decided the evidence was insufficient to charge Zuehlke, Zouski’s memo said.
Zuehlke is repaying the county for stipends he received between 2020 and 2024. He even continued receiving stipends for Argo’s care for a few months after he died in 2024, The Badger Project found in its investigation. After the first story ran in September, Zuehlke and county administration said this had been a clerical error, and the sheriff reimbursed the county for the $1,245 that had been paid after the dog died.
Every sheriff in Wisconsin is up for reelection this year and Zuehlke, who has faced criticism for several major issues in his, told The Badger Project in August he had not decided whether to run for a third term. He did not respond to an email asking if he had made a decision.
Wautoma Police Officer Lafe Hendrickson, a former Waushara County Sheriff’s deputy who unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2018 when Zuehlke won his first term, is the only candidate so far to file papers to run this year, the Waushara County Clerk’s Office said. More candidates are expected to file, sources in the county say.
Sam Wood, a local muckraker with a large following on social media, has said in his online videos that he is considering a run.
The deadline to file to run for sheriff is June 1.
The Badger Project is an independent, reader-supported news org in Wisconsin.
FREE TO READ. EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE.
Creating our hard-hitting news takes a lot of time and money.
A story like this needs at least 8 hours to research, write and edit.
Please consider financially supporting The Badger Project to help us do more reporting in the future.