The Sheboygan County Sheriffs Department was established in 1846, two years before Wisconsin became the 30th state to join the Union. The first Sheriff was T.C. Horner and I am the 54th sheriff to hold office here. Over the 28 years that I have been with the department I have seen many technological and professional advancements in the field of criminal justice that has dramatically changed the way law enforcement services are delivered to the citizens that we serve.
The Sheboygan County Sheriffs Department consists of approximately 180 dedicated men and women who provide an array of law enforcement and correctional services to the citizen of Sheboygan County. The departments 2006 budget is just under 15 million dollars.
Sheriff’s Departments in Wisconsin have unique responsibilities that differ from those services provided by municipal law enforcement agencies. These differences are outlined in state statute and require the sheriffs department to provide for the following services;
1)
The Sheriff is the custodian of the jail and is therefore responsible for all persons ordered into custody,
2)The Sheriff must attend to the security of the circuit courts and therefore provides Bailiffs to the courts,
3)The Sheriff must serve and execute all process, writs, precepts and orders issued or made by lawful authority and delivered to the Sheriff,
4)The Sheriff must provide for water rescue and recovery operations for the waters within the jurisdiction of the county and,
5)The Sheriff must enforce all general orders of the department of commerce relating to the sale, transportation and storage of explosives within the county.
In addition The Sheriff and his or her Deputies shall keep and preserve the peace in the county and quiet and suppress all affrays, routs, riots, unlawful assemblies and insurrections.
How do we carry out these responsibilities within Sheboygan County? The Sheriffs Department is broken down into four(4) divisions as follows with these general responsibilities;
1)Patrol Services- Traffic Law Enforcement, Traffic Accident Investigation, Criminal Investigation, Community Problem Solving, Crime Prevention, First Responder, Prisoner Transfers and Movement, Undercover Investigations, Special Events and Public Speaking,
2)Criminal Investigations- Investigate Violations of Criminal Law, Interview Witnesses and Suspects, Interrogate Persons, Search Persons, Property and Crime Scenes, Direct, Apprehend and Arrest Persons, Crime Scene Supervision, Develop and Work Informants, Report Writing and Courtroom Testimony and Public Speaking ,
3)Corrections/Jail- Inmate Booking, Strip Search Inmates, Inmate Observation, Inmate Meals and Supply Distribution, Trustee and Work Release Supervision, Inmate Discipline and Inmate Transportation,
4)Support Services- Emergency Management Services, Departmental Training, Boat and Snowmobile oversight, Motor Fleet, Radio and Dispatch Center Equipment, Alarms Records, Time System Coordinator, Special Projects Manager and Supervisor and Evaluate Office Manager, Mechanic and Car Washer.
Within each of these divisions there are many “Special Teams or Programs” such as; K-9 Unit, S.W.A.T., Boat and Dive Teams, Crisis Negotiators, Drug Unit, Civil Process and Bailiffs, Motorcycle, Snowmobile, A.T.V. and Bicycle Patrols, Honor Guard Unit, CounterACT Officers, Awards Committee, Specialized Unified Tactics Instructors, Neighbor Watch and Citizens Academy Instructors. We are also involved with the local chapter of “Beat The Heat” and conduct and annual “Shop With A Cop” program each year around Christmas time where we take underprivileged children Christmas shopping.
I believe by your review of our Web-Site that you will find that the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Department is a progressive and innovative law enforcement agency that focuses on customer service and community protection. If you have and specific request or question please feel free to contact me or any member of the sheriffs department.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Michael W. Helmke
