Tag: wandering officers
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Milwaukee-area cop who quit job after sexting with victim still in policing
Christopher Cheek was forced to resign from the Grafton Police Department after exchanging sexual messages with a victim in a pending criminal case. His current chief says the interactions were consensual.
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Wisconsin DOJ appeals decision ordering release of all cop names
The state Department of Justice appealed a ruling in a lawsuit brought by The Badger Project and the Invisible Institute ordering the agency to release the names and work histories of every cop in the state.
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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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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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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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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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Commander cited for disorderly conduct no longer employed by State Patrol
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 less than a week after The Badger Project reported the incident.
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Neenah cop quit last policing job amid accusations of sexist and racist remarks
Derrick Rotta resigned his police position in Menasha in 2024 after being investigated for an allegation that he was “the most racist person at the department.” The Neenah Police Department hired him last year.
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Waukesha city cop ousted for OWI, fleeing crash, hired at county sheriff’s office
A veteran of the City of Waukesha Police Department quit in 2023 after he was arrested for driving drunk and knocking down a light pole with his Jeep. The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office hired him in March.
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‘Officer Asshole’ – Chippewa Co cop who quit amid probe now at nearby PD
Andrew Straszkowski resigned from the Lake Hallie Police Department on the day of a disciplinary meeting regarding his use of force and insubordination. He’s now working at a nearby police department.
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Waushara Co Sheriff promoted deputy after lewd photos, other bad behavior
Matthew Elliott resigned from the sheriff’s department last month, just days after The Badger Project requested a 2022 investigation into him propositioning colleagues and sending others lewd photos.
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Ex-Muskego officer accused of sex assault by fellow cop working at nearby agency
Andrew Sundstrom, a former Muskego Police K9 officer, was accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, also a cop. He was forced out of the job but not charged and claims the allegations were “manufactured.”
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NW Wisconsin cop forced out for bad behavior now working at Hayward PD
Officer Matthew Frey resigned in lieu of termination from the Cumberland Police Department after facing dozens of complaints, including cursing at civilians and watching YouTube on duty.