Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
Patch of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
Patch of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
Badge of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
Badge of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office
Common nameMilwaukee County Sheriff
AbbreviationMCSO
Motto"We Are Held To A Higher Standard...And We Ought To Be Proud"
Agency overview
Formed1835; 189 years ago (1835)
Employees550
Annual budget50 million
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionUnited States
Size1190 mi
Population950,000
Legal jurisdictionMilwaukee County, Wisconsin
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters821 W State Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
United States
Deputies288
Civilian employees240
Sheriff responsible
  • Sheriff Denita Ball
Agency executive
  • Chief Deputy, Daniel Hughes
Bureaus
4
  • Administrative Services Bureau
  • Detention Bureau
  • Police Services Bureau
  • Criminal Investigations Bureau
Facilities
Stations5
Boats2
Drones4
K9s12
Website
county.milwaukee.gov
The Milwaukee County Sheriff Patrol Bureau in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is the principal law enforcement agency that serves Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It provides law enforcement services for the county's freeways and outlying lettered County Trunk Highways, the Milwaukee County Courthouse, the Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility and House of Corrections, the county-owned Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, and the Milwaukee County Parks system, including all of the Milwaukee County lakefront, along with the county's few unincorporated sections.

At one time it was the largest sheriff's department in the state of Wisconsin, with about 750 deputy sheriffs. By 2015 the agency had reduced the number of sworn personnel to approximately 300. The reduction of sworn members was due to the county shifting jailing responsibilities to specific correction officers rather than sworn deputies.[1]

The current sheriff (who is elected by the public as a partisan office) is Denita R. Ball, who was sworn on October 24, 2022. Ball was elected as a Democrat and is the force's first female leader.

Bureaus and divisions

Administrative Services Bureau

The Administrative Services Bureau contains the Open Records Division, Central Records Unit, Media Relations, Clerical Staff, Traffic Desk, Special Events, Training Academy, Community Relations Unit, and the Honor Guard.

Detention Services Bureau

The Detention Services Bureau handles inmate health, transportation, food services, inmate housing, property, jail records, visiting, classification, central booking records and warrants.

Police Services Bureau

The Police Services Bureau oversees the Airport Division, Courts Division, Patrol Division, Parks Unit, Civil Process Unit, Motor Units, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Bicycle Patrol and the Boat Patrol

Criminal Investigations Bureau

The Criminal investigations Bureau Oversees the General Investigations Unit, Apprehension Unit, Background Investigations, Undercover Unit, and the Law Enforcement Analyst Division.

MCSO Ranks

1.Sheriff: (1)

2.Chief Deputy: also known as Undersheriff is the second in charge. An Undersheriff partners with the Sheriff to develop the short- and long-term goals of the county’s sheriff’s department. (1)

3.Inspector: oversight of a Bureau operations and budgeting. (3)

4.Captain: oversight of a Division operations and budgeting. (12)

5.Lieutenant: Shift Commander, plans, oversees, and coordinates the daily activities of a designated operational entity of the Sheriff's Office. (9)

6.Sergeant: present the first line of supervisors. They perform all the duties of a Deputy as well as supervise, coordinate, and guide Deputy and other department employees in their daily activities. (15)

7.Deputy Sheriff: works to protect a county’s property and citizens. They patrol highways and cities, investigating crimes and keeping records of different criminal instances. They also escort detainees from court proceedings and ensure the courtroom is peaceful and professional.

Deputy Sheriffs operate different communications devices, like radios and telephones to report and respond to emergency calls. They’ll also navigate the highway and county areas to ensure all drivers are following posted speed limits and adhering to other traffic laws. Many Deputy Sheriffs also serve court documents to individuals.

Title Insignia
Sheriff
Chief Deputy
Inspector
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective
Deputy Sheriff

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, 12 officers have died in the line of duty.[2] For 11 years, the Milwaukee County Law Enforcement Executives Association, in conjunction with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department, has hosted the Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony annually in May.[3][4] The event, which honors Milwaukee County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, is part of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Week.[5]

Officer Date of Death Details
Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman
July 31, 2012
Automobile accident
Deputy Sheriff Sung Hui Bang
August 17, 2000
Aircraft accident
Deputy Sheriff I Ralph Edward Zylka
August 17, 2000
Aircraft accident
Deputy Sheriff I David Michael Demos
January 25, 1997
Vehicular assault
Deputy Sheriff I John Valentine Trandel
May 1, 1981
Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff Wallace N. Schilling
October 8, 1975
Gunfire (Accidental)
Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Rhodes
November 17, 1951
Automobile accident
Deputy Sheriff Al Beckemeier
May 10, 1947
Motorcycle accident
Deputy Sheriff Howard F. Grundman
January 30, 1934
Motorcycle accident
Deputy Sheriff George Pazik
May 30, 1917
Motorcycle accident
Deputy Sheriff Frank X. Heup
November 1, 1915
Motorcycle accident
Deputy Sheriff William Wank
August 18, 1915
Gunfire

Equipment

Weapons and other duty equipment

  • Sig P320 9mm- standard issue pistol, replaced Glock Model 22 Gen 4 .40
  • Smith & Wesson M&P15- The Smith & Wesson M&P15 is used for normal patrol deputies.
  • Taser X7- Used by patrol deputies as well as corrections officers.

Vehicles:

See also

References

  1. ^ "25 Milwaukee County deputies earned more than $100,000 in 2013". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 21, 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  2. ^ "The Officer Down Memorial Page". odmp.org. Retrieved 16 March 2015. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ "2015 Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial". Wisconsin Public Safety Photo Library. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. ^ "2013 Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial". Wisconsin Public Safety Photo Library. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Law enforcement memorial honors officers killed on duty". No. May 6, 2015. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 6 May 2015.