Category: Law enforcement
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Johnson Creek cop no longer employed after DUI arrest; may face more charges
The Johnson Creek Police Department stopped employing Peter Chin in June, about a month after his drunk driving arrest. The Waukesha County District Attorney is investigating him for potential, related criminal charges.
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Ex-Sheboygan Co deputy accused of threatening landlord hired by Marathon Co Sheriff
Former Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Mertzig was investigated in 2022 amid accusations from his landlords that he threatened to have code violations enforced against their properties. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office hired him in 2025.
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Portage Co detective who quit after his arrest now working at Tomahawk PD
The wife of Detective John White called 911, accusing him of drunken, threatening behavior. A charge was later expunged, and White is back in policing. His chief says the incident was the only “hiccup” in his background.
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Ex-UW-Superior cop who quit amid complaints from female student employees working at Hayward PD
An investigation into Officer Jadon Stone’s conduct concluded the accusations were “credible,” but the Hayward Police chief “found nothing to disqualify him.”
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Waushara Co Sheriff’s Dept brass made $75k as small town cops, but arrested no one, wrote no tickets in 3 years
In the final years of the Coloma Police Department, two high-ranking Waushara County Sheriff’s Department officials made nearly $75,000 total for their part-time work running the village’s law enforcement agency.
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Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputy arrested for drunk driving
Daniel Matuszak has worked for the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office since 2022. Last month, he was pulled over by a fellow deputy and charged for drinking and driving. Now he’s on administrative leave.
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Lincoln Co Sheriff’s lieutenant charged with drunk driving, still working
Lt. Brian Burkhardt put his minivan into a ditch in January and was arrested for operating while intoxicated. His court case is ongoing.
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Portage cop resigned after being charged for UTV rollover that broke rider’s pelvis
Det. Sgt. Brian Johnson retired from policing soon after he was accused of crashing a UTV that badly injured one of his passengers in 2025. His criminal case is still pending.
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Ex-La Crosse cop arrested in Minnesota for DUI now working for Sparta PD
Riley Carroll resigned from the La Crosse Police Department in 2025, a few months after he was arrested for drunk driving in Minnesota. He was convicted of careless driving and now works at the police department in Sparta.
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Wisconsin DOJ must release statewide list of 16,000 cops, judge rules
A court sided with The Badger Project and the Invisible Institute in their lawsuit demanding a list of all police in the state from the Department of Justice, which had repeatedly rejected requests for it.
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Menasha PD hired a wandering officer. Now he’s been arrested and the city could get sued.
The city’s police department hired Cristian Morales in 2025 after he was forced out of another agency. He is now facing a felony for stalking his ex. Research says wandering officers are more likely to commit misconduct.
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‘Hard worker’ cop with OWI given ‘second chance’ in Sheboygan County
A former Sheboygan police officer is now working part-time for the Cascade Police Department after an OWI arrest in 2022. His current police chief says he deserves a second chance.
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Milwaukee Press Club awards The Badger Project for 5th straight year
The club’s Excellence in Journalism contest nominated the news nonprofit in four story categories, including Best Investigation, Best Public Service and Best Personal Profile.
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The Badger Project wins second ‘Opee’ award for its public records work
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council gives Openness in Government Awards, or Opees, to recognize outstanding efforts to defend open government, as well as highlight threats to it.
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Ex-La Crosse cop accused of writing misleading report now at nearby PD
A long-time officer for the La Crosse Police Department resigned while under investigation for his report that differed from body camera footage of his interaction with a drunken motorist at Oktoberfest.
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Racine Co Sheriff’s Office investigator probed amid claims of sexual abuse
A deputy is being investigated after his wife got a restraining order against him and accused him of abusing her sexually for more than a decade.
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Richland Co Sheriff’s Office stakeouts uncovered deputy’s on-duty liaisons
A deputy and city alderman in western Wisconsin resigned after having repeated sexual meetings while on duty. The Viola Police Department still employs him.
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Waushara Co Sheriff reaches deal to repay half of $22k in K9 funds he took
An investigation by The Badger Project found Sheriff Walter Zuehlke got over $20k for his K9 after quitting the trainings. The county asked him to repay that plus interest, but settled to avoid a costly court battle.