Kenosha Sheriff’s Department Announces Promotions

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Photo by Sheriff Zoerner

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department has announced three recent promotions. Due to the retirement of the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, and others, there will likely be more promotions in the future as well.

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Captain Steven Beranis
(Photo Courtesy Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)

The Kenosha Sheriff’s department announced that Lieutenant Steven Beranis has been promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Beranis was hired as a Deputy in 2002. He was an evidence tech, field training officer (FTO), and bomb technician. Beranis primarily worked 2nd shift patrol as a deputy until his promotion to the rank of sergeant in 2010. He was then a second shift supervisor until 2017. He was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was the 2nd shift patrol commander until 2021 and commander of the bomb squad. Beranis was then takes to be the Administrator of the Kenosha County Detention Center in July of 2021.

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“I am excited to be a part of Sheriff Zoerner’s command staff. I am also looking forward to being the division commander of detentions, the biggest of the Sheriff’s Department,” said Captain Beranis.

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“Captain Beranis has a proven track record of diligence and a high level of technical skill. I have worked with Captain Beranis for many years. I have the highest confidence in his ability to successfully lead the detentions division,” said Sheriff-Elect Zoerner

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Lieutenant Chase Forster
(Photo Courtesy Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)

Sergeant Chase Forster was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Forster was hired by the Sheriff’s Department in August of 2013.

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After graduating the academy in December of 2013, Forester did about 5 years on 2nd shift patrol as a Deputy. He was promoted to Sergeant in November of 2018. He spent a year on 3rd shift patrol as a Sergeant then moved to conveyance as a 2nd shift sergeant for about a little over a year. Around February of 2021, Forster implemented the body camera program and was the Sergeant of all digital evidence and body camera training since then. Forster was given the tedious task of fulfilling discovery requests from attorneys and public records requests from citizens and the media. KCE kept him busy, but he always gave us what we asked for in a timely manner. Last Friday, Forester was promoted to Lieutenant of 1st shift patrol.

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Lieutenant Forester has been married to his wife Laura since July of 2016. They have a 3 year old boy and a 4 year old girl.

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“I am excited to start my new adventure as a Lieutenant on patrol. I am grateful I can continue to work with the community to make Kenosha County a better, safer place. I can’t wait to see where this next journey of my life takes me. Thank you, Sheriff Beth and Sheriff-Elect Zoerner, for providing me with this opportunity,” Lt. Forster told KCE.

Sergeant Shawn Beckstrom
(Photo Courtesy Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)

Deputy Shawn Beckstrom was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Sergeant Beckstrom was hired by the Sheriff’s Department in 2012 as a Direct Supervision Officer at Kenosha County Detention Center. Holding that position for less than a year, he traded his corrections uniform for that of a Deputy’s in July of 2013. During Sgt. Beckstrom’s time as a Deputy, he has been a member of the marine unit, crowd control unit, and the bomb squad. He was also a field training officer (FTO) on 1st and 2nd shifts. Sgt Beckstrom will be working as a patrol supervisor on 3rd shift.

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