Price County, WI Chapter 120 Law Enforcement

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Price County 6-27-1972 by Ord. No. 4468. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 120-1 Law Enforcement Committee established.

A. There is hereby established a Price County Law Enforcement Committee for the Sheriff's Department with duties, functions, and authority as herein set forth.

B. Members of said Committee shall be entitled to receive compensation from the County for services actually rendered in conducting the authorized business of said Committee, which compensation shall be at the per diem rate for committees set by the County Board, plus mileage at the prevailing County rate when such services are rendered.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. At the option of the Committee, the County Clerk may act as Secretary of the Committee and keep the records thereof. All meetings of the Committee shall be at the call of the Chairperson. Three members shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall have the power to make such rules and regulations as may be required for the ordinary conduct of its business and may have said rules and regulations printed in booklet form, and the cost of said booklets and printing shall be paid by the County.

§ 120-2 Duties of Committee. [1]

It shall be the duty of the Committee:

A. With the advice of the Human Resources Coordinator, to receive applications and have conducted examinations of applicants for positions in the Sheriff's Department of Price County with the frequency necessary to maintain an eligible list sufficient to meet the needs of the Department. All written examinations shall be conducted by the Wisconsin Employment Service.

B. To approve the budget for the Sheriff's Department.

C. To employ extra help on a temporary basis to replace regular employees during their vacation time and their sick leave.

D. To recommend the purchase of equipment and automobiles as needed by the Sheriff's Department and handle all purchases of other equipment where Board approval is not necessary.

E. To establish policies for the protection of persons and property in Price County and handle all matters pertaining to the hiring, training, examining, promoting, disciplining, or dismissing of law enforcement personnel, subject, however, to grievance hearing procedures as established by union contract and Price County Personnel Policies and Procedures and subject to the Wisconsin Statutes as to said procedures, with the advice of the Human Resources Coordinator and in coordination with the Personnel Committee.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 120-3 Organization of Committee.

A. The members of the Law Enforcement Committee of the Price County Board of Supervisors, acting in such capacity at the time of passing of this chapter, shall constitute the membership of the new Law Enforcement Committee ordained hereby. In addition to the duties of said Committee as herein set forth, said Committee shall also have and be charged with all the duties, responsibilities and authority of the present Law Enforcement Committee, and the members of said Committee shall hold membership in the Committee ordained hereby for the same term and under the same conditions as such membership is presently held in the current Law Enforcement Committee.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. The Law Enforcement Committee of the Price County Board of Supervisors, in being prior to the enactment of this chapter, is hereby abolished.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Original Sec. IV(a), which immediately followed this section and dealt with salaries, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 120-4 Vacancies in Sheriff's Department.

A. When vacancies occur in the Sheriff's Department, they shall be filled by selection by the Sheriff with the approval of the Committee from a list of three persons who have passed the necessary physical and written exams and have been interviewed by the Interviewing Committee according to Price County Personnel Policies and Procedures.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. Vacancies occurring in part-time Deputy Sheriff positions shall be filled pursuant to rules and regulations by the Committee.

§ 120-5 Rank.

Rank of assigned personnel shall be established by the Committee, except in all cases the Sheriff and Chief Deputy shall be the first and second ranking officers, respectively, in the Department.

§ 120-6 Grievance procedures.

Grievance procedures established by the Board of Supervisors and the Law Enforcement Committee as herein ordained shall be subject to the provisions of § 59.26(8)(a), Wis. Stats.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Sec. IV(f), regarding the existing members of the Sheriff's Department, as amended 9-7-1972, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 120-7 Investigator position.

[Added 2-24-1976 by Ord. No. 4608[1]]

The investigator position and vacancy in that position are to be filled by selection by the Sheriff from the top three applicants with approval of the Law Enforcement Committee. The top three applicants are to then be determined by the committee consisting of the Law Enforcement Committee, Sheriff and Chief Deputy based upon the personal interview and the schooling, experience and expertise in criminal investigation. The Sheriff is to then select one person from the top three applicants and is to submit that name to the Law Enforcement Committee. The Sheriff's selection is subject to the approval of the Law Enforcement Committee by a majority vote.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 120-8 Chief Deputy.

A. The position of Chief Deputy shall perform all of the statutorial duties of the undersheriff per § 59.26(8)(a), Wis. Stats.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. The Chief Deputy shall outrank all of the personnel of the Sheriff's Department except the Sheriff. In addition to being the highest ranking officer of the Department, it is the intent that he shall be the head administrative officer under the Sheriff. He shall also perform related work required as follows:

(1) Act for the Sheriff in his absence.

(2) Be the head administrative officer and personnel officer within the Department.

(3) Direct investigations, internal operations and civil process.

(4) Assign and review work of officers and employees within the Department.

(5) Advise Sheriff's Department personnel on policies and procedures.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

(6) Prepare and make recommendations to the Law Enforcement Committee and County Board.

(7) Keep reports and make reports as directed by the County Board or Law Enforcement Committee.

(8) Make complaint for disciplinary purposes to the Sheriff and to the Law Enforcement Committee against any Deputy he believes has acted so as to show him to be incompetent or to merit suspension, demotion, or dismissal.

C. It is the intent in connection with the specifying of duties to provide, within the limitations of existing law and constitution, for continuity in law enforcement as it relates to the Sheriff's Department and to provide any incoming Sheriff with a working organization and to relieve the Sheriff from any details in connection with the responsibility of that office. All general policy will come from the Sheriff, but the Chief Deputy, with the authority herein, will furnish the necessary leadership and administration on a continuing basis.[3]

[3] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

D. The tenure of the Chief Deputy shall be subject to all of the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations as established by the Law Enforcement Committee.[4]

[4] Editor's Note: Original Sec. VI, which abolished the office of Traffic Officer and immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).