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.
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.
Normally synchronized with the president, Rep. Derrick Van Orden has moved to the center on a couple of major issues. Is he worried about his chances in Wisconsin’s most competitive district?
The police department was knocked for “shoddy record keeping” and a “lack of leadership” in a 2019 investigation. A police chief hired the same year says he’s made major changes to revamp the organization.
After paying $450,000 to a man involved in a 2020 police confrontation, the department stopped using traffic stops to issue unrelated and outstanding citations last month.
Trump won the 3rd Congressional District by 7+ points, while Van Orden won it by less than 3. In the House district in SE Wisconsin, Steil ran well ahead of Trump, perhaps putting it out of reach for Democrats.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden defeated his challenger by about 2.8% this year, a tighter margin than in 2022. Democrats are likely to make his district a priority again in 2026, which projects to be a good year for them.
Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden and Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke have raised a record amount as they run neck and neck in the race for the 3rd Congressional District.
Notable donors include Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply Co., John Menard, the Uihleins of ULINE, casino magnate Steve Wynn and Chicago Bears minority owner Pat Ryan.
At least 12 law enforcement officers currently working in La Crosse County and the surrounding areas have been fired or forced out from previous jobs in law enforcement, according to an investigation by The Badger Project.
The Badger Project is suing the La Crosse Police Department for refusing to release public records regarding a former officer who resigned in lieu of resignation in 2019.