(BWC Footage Still Shot)
A Kenosha Police Detective with an otherwise unblemished record, has received a 20-day unpaid suspension from Chief Patrick Patton. Detective Daniel DeJonge, a sensitive crimes detective with 23 years on the job, was suspended for 20 days on July 18, 2023 for violating KPD Policy 17.4 (D) Use of Equipment which states that “The use of any City equipment or facility for non-City purposes at any time is expressly prohibited.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KCE has learned that on May 10, 2023, while off duty, DeJonge was driving his KPD squad car in Racine County a couple of hours before his shift was to start. A Michigan woman rear-ended DeJonge and caused a serious crash. She was cited for Unreasonable and Imprudent Speed and Deviating from Lane of Traffic. The squad car was totaled and valued at approximately $8,000. DeJonge was not cited.
Body-worn-camera obtained by KCE, showed Detective DeJonge immediately called KPD supervision and notified them of the crash and admitted that he was in the wrong for being in the car.
An internal investigation was conducted and Chief Patton suspended DeJonge for 20 days. DeJonge did not challenge the suspension that will appear on Tuesday’s Police and Fire Commission meeting agenda.
KCE spoke to a couple of Kenosha Police officers who said that DeJonge is a hardworking and dedicated Detective who works very sensitive and stressful cases, from molestation to child pornography. Patton couldn’t comment on specifics but did say that he takes violations of KPD police seriously and pointed out DeJonge’s long history of following the rules.
Other employees of the City of Kenosha have been disciplined for similar conduct. There have been no terminations for such violations.
36 Responses
Sounds fair from all sides
Do detectives have “take home” cars? How is it he was driving a city vehicle a couple of hours before his shift was to start?
They do not have take home cars.
why did the copster admit to being wrong in regard to the rear end, A Michigan woman rear-ended DeJong and caused a serious crash. Shed was cited for Unreasonable and Imprudent Speed and Deviating from Lane of Traffic. The squad car was totaled and valued at approximately $8,000. DeJong was not cited.
Body-worn-camera obtained by KCE, showed Detective DeJong immediately called KPD supervision and notified them of the crash and admitted that he was in the wrong.
When he admitted that he was in the wrong, I believe he was speaking about using his squad car off duty, not for the accident
The detectives all go shopping on duty. I have seen them at Menards and Lowe’s. Hard working on tax payer dime.
They could be doing follow up for a case. Don’t be too quick to judge.
I’m not quick to judge but when they get in the line to order decking supplies I think it’s not for following up on a case.
Did Menards get robbed while the cop was there? If not he was keeping the place safe. Was he on a sting to see if the employee was ringing up things correctly or stealing in any way? Was he on his lunch or break? Was he on his way home from work? Was he KPD or another agency? Did his actions interfere with his job? Do you know his job duties? I spent years on the job getting second guessed and “arm chair” quarterbacked. Now it’s my time be able to talk. Believe me, I know the dirty secrets and spending 10 minutes at Lowes is not one.
“Follows the rules” or just hasn’t been caught and/or reported?
**DeJonge
I hope Chief Patton always sticks to the rules, the discipline seems to be just.
The discipline is both just and perhaps excessive. I would think a 10-day suspension would be more appropriate.
There were injuries involved so 20 days is appropriate.
Pleasant Prairie needs to charge Steinbrink for using the Village equipment for personal use! Two sets of rules for the Elite in this county, on the taxpayers dime. Despicable!
???? He is no longer on the payroll and is facing trial in November.
I would like to know how this detective got his work vehicle and used it prior to working hours and then gets into a crash? Where was he going to and back from on the taxpayers dime? This is obviously for personal use, how much gas did he use? Did he reimburse the City for the gas? How many KPD personnel do this exact thing and get away with it? Who checks on these things for KPD as to who is coming and going with city vehicles? This is ridiculous.
If you have that many concerns and questions, maybe you should do your own investigation. It will help you sleep better at night
I sleep just fine Slong lover.
Good grief, you two! Behave.
I’m not a detective but probably could be.
When the investigators are guilty of regular and habitual misconduct, they probably shouldn’t be the ones investigating criminal misconduct of others.
I’m sure this detective had no issue with 20 days of no pay seeing as he likely drove years and 1000s of miles at the taxpayer expense at many times the cost of 20 days pay. He should be terminated immediately. Slaps on the wrist don’t earn the respect of the taxpayers.
I’ll add this: He won’t lose his job because someone up the ladder, higher than Dejong allowed him to take the car whenever he wanted. A slap on the wrist only because he was in an accident. No accident, no slap on the wrist. The problem with bureaucracy is the whole system is entrenched from
top to bottom. This is theft through taxation. We all work, bust our balls daily l, pay our taxes so twats like DuJong can go joy riding at our expense. So sick of the criminals/thieves in public service.
I heard he was dropping off his wife somewhere. So what’s the deal with that? Does KPD allow other people to get into their squads with them? Why wouldn’t he take his own stupid car and drive his wife around instead of a squad. How far did he drive her? This is crap. Of course he took the punishment. Like previously stated he has probably been doing this for years and never got caught before.
Just Because DeShong is hard working and works stressful cases doesn’t give him the right to TAKE a city car that taxpayers purchased and drive god knows where for god knows how long before his shift started. I would like to know how many other cops have been written up for this same thing? I would also like to know how is KPD going to prevent this from happening in the future.
This could be done simply if the cars have GPS trackers on them. Do they? This data, if it exists should also be public record and available by request. An audit could be done on vehicles compared to who they are assigned to. If the vehicle isn’t assigned and there is activity on it, there is a case for termination like DeShlongs case.
Need a replacement detective chief?
All part of the circle of corruption
It’s worse in Iowa Banana Republic. Imagine your son being charged with Operation without Registration without evidence of operation, and the defense attorney refused to subpoena any witnesses for the defense when DPD officer J. Howell had exculpatory evidence and all officials CONCEALED and Covered up http://www.youtube.com/user/kornkobiowa
Time for a reality check. First, the detective admitted violating a department policy and was disciplined for it. Case closed.
That doesn’t mean that what he did was morally wrong or necessarily corrupt. In many police agencies officers not only are permitted to drive their vehicles home but also to use them. Many state police agencies, including Wisconsin and Iowa, allow this to some extent. Indianapolis and Prince Georges County, Maryland are among the others. What they discovered (especially as officers are technically officers 24/7/365 is that this increased patrol presence on the road and deters crime. Also, as officers are assigned a specific vehicle, the experience showed that the vehicles are better cared for, need less major maintenance and replaced less often.
Again, this is not to excuse the detective as he violated city policy here. It just shows that it’s not inherently evil or corrupt (or even unusual).
No one is accusing him of being evil. He’s accused and confessed to breaking dept. policy and respectively stealing taxpayer $$ for personal use. That also fits with the “corrupt comment. He’s been with the dept. for 23 yrs. so he can’t claim ignorance. So, what’s your point?
Agree that it’s breaking the rules but it’s not something to lose sleep over. And maybe the rules need to be changed.
Was this a marked or unmarked car? If marked I have to wonder if he drove it around to “play cop” and intimidate people while off duty. Seems par for the course to be throwing his weight around off duty. Not to mention the tax payer expense. Im sure its not the first time because he immediately knew he had to report it. He knew this was wrong and had an immediate plan in place to report himself if caught. seems sus.
NO mention of it being a marked police cruiser. He had to report it as he was in an accident…not something to hide. Lying would have definitely got him canned. Not sure how he was “throwing his weight around” or what evidence you have to make that remark. What he did was wrong and he will get discipline, plus face the other consequences. If you wanna make a better judgement, get a copy of the police accident report!
Chickenshit rule.
Cops deserve a company car when they reach the rank of detective.
Tough job most of us don’t chose to do.
Don’t like the rule, then change it. Until then, follow the policies that you agreed to when you took the job, or suffer the consequences.
I honestly disagree with this. I think it’s a big deal about nothing.
That being said, the guy admitted wrongdoing….took responsibility….gets nailed for 20 days still.
20 other people in this county do 100x worse shit and basically are able to do so for years until they are caught and arrested. Doesn’t seem fair…..
Exactly. Nothing to lose sleep over. Maybe the rules need to be changed.