2023 Oconto County Sheriff's Office Annual Report

Todd Skarban

"Our team at the Oconto County Sheriff's Office works extremely hard, and it is my job to provide them with the resources to continue to thrive."

| Sheriff Skarban

2023 kicked off my second term as Oconto County Sheriff. Some of our main initiatives were to improve operations, increase education and outreach, as well as continue to increase efficiencies to improve programs and services.

The Law Enforcement Profession nationally is seeing workforce and recruitment challenges in all areas but especially dispatch and corrections. I have made it a top priority to try to improve these conditions locally, and our efforts are paying off.

We do not see the significant shortages like some others. Our team at the Oconto County Sheriff's Office works extremely hard, and it is my job to provide them with the resources to continue to thrive. This will be a main focus throughout my second term, especially mental health and wellness programs for all staff.

Command Staff

Carol Kopp Jail Administrator

Darren Laskowski Chief Deputy

Chad Angus Patrol Lieutenant

Eric Thomson Lieutenant of Investigations

Brad Paitl Patrol Lieutenant

What We Stand For

Mission, Vision, Values, & Constitutional Authority

It is the mission of our office to serve and protect our citizens through fair and impartial treatment. We believe it is our responsibility to uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens. We work to maintain respectful and trusting partnerships within our community to enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Vision Statement

We resolve to provide a positive, fulfilling, and engaging experience for our team. We expect and reinforce leadership behaviors that contribute to that culture. Our workforce is the foundation upon which we achieve our public safety goals for the community we serve.

Our Values

Safety: The safety of our team and community is our highest priority.

Excellence: We strive for excellence in employee accountability and community trust.

Innovation: We will seek new innovative solutions to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Trust: If we say we will do it, it will be done.

Respect: We will treat the members of our community the way we would like to be treated.

Obligation: We will know our role and perform our tasks to the best of our ability.

Teamwork: We will work together to accomplish the mission of the Sheriff's Office.

Constitutional Authority

Wisconsin Statute Chapter 59.26-33 gives authority to the Sheriff and defines the duties of the Sheriff, its undersheriff, and deputies.

Who We Are

Patrol Division

Our Patrol Division is made up of 32 sworn officers including: the Sheriff, the Chief Deputy, three Lieutenants, four Sergeants, five investigators, and 18 patrol deputies. This division operates 24/7/365 providing safe and reliable law enforcement services to the entire county. Of the 18, one deputy is contracted with six of our northern townships (NOCCO) to provide dedicated services to those areas. We also contract with two of our southern townships (SOCCO) to provide services to those areas. There are two Court Security Officers, two officers dedicated to recreational duties (UTV/ATV, snowmobile, water patrols), one School Resource Officer, and five canine handlers. This division is responsible for handling a majority of the emergency/nonemergency calls each year, enforce traffic laws throughout the county, and help keep the peace. Our Patrol Officers also self-initiate calls for service if they encounter something on patrol.

g p p g police service dogs. Each canine is trained in handler protection, obedience, criminal apprehension, and tracking including evidentiary scent work. They can locate marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and their derivatives. Each of our K9 teams train on average 16 hours per month to maintain a high performance level.

Meet Our K9s

K9 Turbo

K9 Emma

Who We Are

Patrol Division: K9 Program

The OCSO is extremely proud of the commitment shown by its K9 teams. In 2023, Deputy Kevin Christensen and K9 Turbo won Top Dog Honors in the annual Karl Zeitler Memorial Hunt Law Dog Competition! Sergeant Cullan Morrissey also won the Champion Narcotics Award with K9 Emma!

Handler Kevin Christensen & K9 Turbo Top Dog Honors

Handler Cullan Morrissey & K9

Emma Champion Narcotics Search

Who We Are

Patrol Division: SRO

students and facility have benefited greatly and continue to seen an increase in safety and security. The Village of Suring Police Department is a great resource as well to the SRO and continues to work in conjunction with the School District and the SRO to ensure county and village ordinances are followed. We look forward to the enormous growth and impact this position will continue to have within the Suring School District! Keep up the great work, Deputy Keplinger!

Pictured above: Suring Police Chief, Kevin Schneider; Suring School District Superintendent Paul Orlich; Oconto County Sheriff, Todd Skarban; Oconto County School Resource Officer, Jess Keplinger.

Who We Are

Jail Division

The Oconto County Jail operates 24/7/365 and has a housing capacity of 145 adult prisoners with three specialized medical/isolation cells. The jail facility has a staff of 27. The Jail Administrator provides oversight of all jail operations and reports directly to the Sheriff. The command staff is made up of one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, and four Corporals. Our Jail transport team has three officers and supports the team with the variety of inmate movement. The jail reception area is staffed full-time to answer calls, assistant the public, and grant visitor access to the facility. Inmate bookings, releases, food service, medical, security checks, cell searches, responding to emergencies, transports and court movement are just a few of the many tasks a Correctional Officer does while on duty.

Jail Programming

Health & Wellness Programs

The health and wellness of our inmates and staff are top priorities in the Oconto County Jail. The Jail Health Services were under contract with Southern Health Partners for the 2023 year. This contract includes 40 hours each week of a Jail Nurse; 24/7 access to a doctor; three hours of doctor care per week; and 20 hours for a Mental Health Counselor to work with inmates and closely with our Health & Human Services Crisis team. The mental health program has been very beneficial for our inmates and our Correctional Officers. An on-call crisis worker also sees or talks via telephone to inmates as needed.

Work Release, Inmate Worker, & Training Programs

Our jail provides many opportunities for inmate who are eligible to provide work release privileges and work inmate jobs in the jail kitchen, laundry, or cleaning duties to be used for time-served credit towards their sentence to reduce their incarceration stay. Inmates may also work with New View Industries to improve interviewing and job skills, get resources, and help with transportation options once released.

GED, Recovery, & Addiction Programs

Inmates can obtain their General Education Degree through the Oconto Unified School District through our GED Program. Many drug and recovery resources and programs are available if needed as well.

Who We Are

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division consists of a Lieutenant and four Investigators. The division is primarily tasked with felony investigations and misdemeanor crimes that are complex in nature, or involve suspects or witnesses residing out of the county. Investigations is responsible for all death investigations, including homicides and suicides. We work collaboratively with other agencies and participate on many joint task forces. The team is specialized in deaths, fire, internet crimes against children, drugs, sexual assaults, among others. In 2023, the Investigations Division was responsible for 392 cases and responded to over 420 cases.

The OCSO is a Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Affiliate, and members of the division are certified for ICAC. In 2023, investigators conducted 21 ICAC cases. If you know of any children in danger, please contact us directly at 920-834-6900.

Northeast Tri-County Drug Enforcement Group (NETCDEG)

Every year an organized High Intensity Criminal Interdiction Operation is conducted to target drugs and other criminal violations within Oconto County. The focus area for this year's operation was the Village of Suring, City of Gillett, and Towns of Spruce, Maple Valley, Bagley, Breed, Gillet, and Underhill. This operation was done with the assistance of the NETCDEG. As a result of this operation there were 89 traffic stops, 30 citations issued, 78 warnings issues, and 18 K9 deployments with 11 positive K9 indications and 7 negative K9 indications. There were 6 in-custody/non-custody arrests and other charging referrals were made for various drug/drug-related offenses. The Oconto County Sheriffʼs Office was assisted by the following agencies in partnership with the Northeast Tri-County Drug Enforcement Group; Marinette, Shawano, Florence, and Forest County Sheriffʼs Office, Marinette, Shawano, Suring, Gillett, Stockbridge Munsee, and Lena Police Departments We would like to thank these agencies for their time and efforts with this operation We are committed to promoting a safe, healthy, and drug free community. Help us pursue those that traffic these dangerous drugs by reporting this type of activity to us by calling 920-834-6900. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, please reach out for more information to start the process of recovery. If you are a resident of Oconto County you may call 920-834-7000 for further information. If you live in a different county, you may call their Human Services or contact Wisconsin Narcotics Anonymous at 800-240-0276 or www.wisconsinna.org.

Who We Are

Communications Division

The Oconto County Sheriff's Office Communications Division operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our Communications Center is in constant radio contact with Sheriff Deputies, municipal law enforcement agencies, adjacent county's law enforcement agencies, the Wisconsin State Patrol, EMS, and Fire agencies. In addition to radio communications, the Communications Center also answers all 911 emergency phone lines and non-emergent lines. They provide deputies and other agencies a line of communication for CPS, Red Cross, Health and Human Services Crisis Team and the Medical Examiner's Office

They also monitor a number of public and private alarm systems, including tornado sirens for Suring, Brazeau, Gillett, Oconto Falls, and Oconto. They are responsible for dispatching and monitoring the radio transmission for the Sheriff's office, six municipalities (including State Patrol), 10 ambulance services, 19 fire departments, and three DNR Fire Warden Units.

Annual Total Calls for Service

2023 & 2024 Priorities

Construct and occupy the new Northern Substation in the Town of Riverview to enhance law enforcement services within the northern parts of the county.

Continue to promote and improve operations and teamwork with our law enforcement, fire, and EMS partners.

Obtain and support protective status for our Correctional Officers.

Upgrade our Communications Center with new office equipment and software.

Develop and promote programs which aim to better serve our community and keep it safe, while eliminating programs which do not.

Research a body worn camera program.

Develop a crisis officer position or team.

Continue to enhance education and public outreach efforts.

Implement cost effective and innovative solutions to handle the problems of tomorrow.

Continue to combat the drug and overdose epidemic within our community.

Improve the Records Management Program and streamline data and information.

Launch our very own app to increase communication and transparency with our community.

Purchase and occupy the old DNR building in Oconto Falls with ARPA funds to have a county-owned storage building versus leasing.

Streamline our scheduling process with a new scheduling software system.

Acquire our Lenco BearCat to help increase our safety and improve our tactics.

Work towards becoming fully staffed in corrections, dispatch, and records.

A Year At a Glance