Kenosha, Wis. — A longtime Kenosha police detective has resigned just days before the conclusion of a sweeping internal investigation that sources say uncovered years of mishandled cases and investigative shortcuts.
Detective Jason Melichar, who joined the Kenosha Police Department in 1999, resigned effective April 2, 2025, according to a department spokesperson. KPD confirmed that Melichar stepped down before the internal inquiry had concluded but declined to comment further, citing the investigation as a personnel matter.
Melichar had a decades-long career with the department, eventually rising to the rank of Detective Sergeant. After about a year and a half, he voluntarily stepped down from the supervisory position, reportedly preferring the work of a front-line investigator. He also served for years as a board member of the Kenosha Professional Police Association (KPPA).
Pete Deates, President of the KPPA, praised Melichar’s longstanding service to the organization and the broader community. “Jason’s ability to build and maintain relationships — not just for the union, but for the entire department — was remarkable,” Deates said.
But in the final stretch of his career, Melichar’s performance declined sharply, according to multiple sources within the department. A KPD insider told Kenosha County Eye that while Melichar had once been considered one of the more capable detectives with the department, he had begun to cut corners and shirk core responsibilities.
“There was a time he was solid,” the insider said. “But he got lazy. He stopped doing the work.”
An internal audit of his cases reportedly revealed that Melichar had frequently used a procedural loophole to close investigations without adequate follow-up — sometimes without ever re-contacting victims or pursuing leads. Detectives at KPD have historically operated with considerable autonomy, and supervisors typically intervene only when asked. That structure, according to insiders, allowed Melichar’s misconduct to go unnoticed for an extended period.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
That changed during the investigation, as Chief Patrick Patton reviewed the preliminary findings of the audit and began implementing a series of internal reforms. Patton moved quickly to tighten oversight, reduce detective autonomy, and introduce safeguards aimed at preventing similar lapses in the future. On or around December 5, 2024, Melichar was placed on administrative leave, and the department launched a months-long internal investigation, combing through years of his casework.
Over the course of four months, investigators uncovered what one source called a “clear pattern” of incomplete investigations. Melichar was given a final opportunity to plead his case directly to the chief. He declined to do so, and resigned instead. Sources close to the matter told Kenosha County Eye that Melichar’s termination was all but certain had he not quit.
In the wake of the investigation, the department has instituted new oversight policies within the detective bureau, reducing the level of autonomy previously granted to investigators. Detectives are now subject to closer scrutiny and tighter controls aimed at preventing similar breakdowns in accountability.
One officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, praised the chief’s handling of the matter. “Patton knew this would give the department a black eye,” the officer said. “But he did the right thing anyway. That’s a leader I will stand behind.”
Reflecting on the situation, Deates added, “Jason was a true friend to me and to many in the department. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, his work performance had clearly declined over the years.”
Melichar’s departure ends a 26-year career with the department — one that began with promise, but ended under a cloud of suspicion and unanswered questions.
105 Responses
Some people
Burn out.
Supervisors have some responsibility in S U P E R V I S I O N
Suoervisors have responsibility in observing the welfare of staff.
Excuses excuses
Back the badge ?
Wait, so all these stupid conferences and education seminars they attend don’t actually work?
Burnout is your excuse? Boy have people become soft.
“Patton knew this would give the department a black eye,”
Would ??
Too late. Already done
Burnout, is in fact a real thing.
Sometimes, one just throws their hands up in the air
and asks themselves what exactly are they beating themselves
up for.
Probably best for everybody, that he took this opportunity to
make whatever adjustments he himself feels need to be done.
He took the cowards way out!! The decline probably started when he had his affair that ended his marriage, amongst running his side hustle as the owner of Just Drive!! He also resigned probably so he could keep his pension!!
Just like the KUSD….resign instead of being fired. I wonder how many cases would of had different outcomes had he done his job? Since there is evidence that things may not have been done properly, in what are now closed cases, the vases can be reopened and redone. Some people may be in jail and shouldn’t be.
Under Gravely and McNeil watch no one went to jail. So I doubt there are innocent people in jail because of him. If anything people are in jail bc the DA prosecuted a case that shouldn’t have been prosecuted
His affair didn’t run his marriage but the one his wife had with his best friend did! Both of them were never faithful to each other but that was the final breaking point.
Some people get good at their jobs.
Then bosses confuse that competence with thinking that, that person can also lead. So then that competent person is put in charge of others as “their” leader or worse yet, left alone without supervision.
Some people reach the end or top of their competence and should stay right there. Doing what they do best. They should not or even want to lead others but they do. And that’s a failure of the bosses above. Failing to see that leadership incompetence.
This is on the chief.
It may not have been Patton who promoted him. He’s only been chief since Morrisey left. Likely he rose through the ranks with other Police Chiefs. But agree, good workers often get promoted for being a good worker. He did recognize the fact he wasn’t liking supervision and stepped down. From the few officers I know they seem confident in Patton as a good chief and leader.
Actually after Morrissey there were at least two other “chiefs” before Patton.
That’s pretty deep stuff, but I know what you mean . Real leadership can’t be taught , worse yet, it can’t be faked.
Peter principle
I’m going out on a limb here, maybe the liberal prosecutors played a part where a pattern of arrests of the same people due to the revolving door at the DAs office for years. Not making excuses just an observation. Burn out was mentioned this type of thing would definitely bring it on.
Exactly!! I truly believe this is one of the reasons he did what he did. Officers get burnt out.
In the investigation and Patton taking action, was there anything identified to help with suggested “burnout”? Like the military, I suspect police officers are hesitant to seek help. That is a core issue that needs to be addressed. It’s a tough job with many strains on personal life. They see many things most people never will. It’s ok to seek help and assistance for anyone.
Able to resign instead of being terminated for cause after a months long investigation? Sounds fishy to me.
You crazy!
So, was he able to retire and collect a pension?
no
I’ve already heard otherwise. He will collect his pension. I hope your info is right.
What a waste to lose a 28-year pension!!! I’m sure he knew the writing was in the wall and they would fire him, so he resigned instead!! That in itself tells you he was guilty, let alone not wanting to explain himself!!! Where does all that money in the pension go now??
He got lazy and sloppy probably because he had to make time for his affair while married. He just remarried the home wrecker he had the affair with a couple years ago too!!! Not to mention the guy liked to party and drink!!
Hmmm I heard his (ex) wife was the one who cheated first, not him?
Swingers?
Exactly what I was thinking considering the ex-wife is still in a relationship with a teacher at Whittier who was friends of theirs, so there’s another marriage that was ruined!! Pretty gross to be involved with friends of yours when everyone is married!!! It only leaves you to believe they were swingers!!!
Who cares who cheated on who first? That has no relevance to this story at all!
The ex wife cheated with his close friend then recently got remarried to the same guy she cheated with. Get your facts straight before making accusations.
Swingers?
Oh so have the facts straight!!! There are 2 sides to every story and the ex-wife is not remarried to the guy she is still with!!
false. they are both remarried, your an idiot! I think you should stop wasting time commenting on people’s lives whom you don’t know and go read a book or touch grass
*you’re
And you’re an idiot that seems to be a know it all!!! Either way, pretty disgusting to cheat and marry people within your own circle of friends!!
The ex wife is a horrible person. She’s so judgmental. I’m a former nurse and worked with her. She always talked down to people. She probably cheats on this husband too.
They were both that way!! Noses up in the air and unless you were friends with them, they wouldn’t even talk to you!!
It doesn’t matter who cheated on who, but both with friends in your own little clicks circle is pretty disgusting!! Their daughters are the same way too…snub noses unless you are friends with them! The apple definitely didn’t fall from their tree!!
And who are you to be commenting on this??? And to bring the daughters in… that’s disgusting and immature. They are kids. Leave them alone and get a damn life. Calling kids you probably barely know snub noses? Go read a book or something.
And who are you to be commenting on this??? And to bring the daughters in… that’s disgusting and immature. They are kids. Leave them alone and get a damn life. Calling kids you probably barely know snub noses? Go read a book or something.
Just sounds like you are jealous they didn’t want to talk to you too. Just sayin….
Who doesn’t?
Ouch!
Really? His pension is gone? How does that work with resigning?
He gets some of it but not all of it
He gets all of his pension. He was not fired so the city still has to match there part of his retirement. He only loses part of the retirement if he is fired and the city does not have to match.
Why not ?
With 26 years on if he was 50 years old he’s getting a pension.
He resigned, so no to “retirement”. Unless something happened that is not in the article; he worked long enough to earn his pension and be vested. Those funds are his. In WI, if you are 55 years+ and separate employment from a WI retirement employer, you can withdraw funds from your retirement account. If, I recall, there 1 or 2 other specific hardship clauses too. Like many with a pension, when you leave an employer, you often have the choice to leave it in the fund or roll it to an IRA.
Disclosure; don’t know the guy, but worked for a WI retirement employer.
You can only roll it over to an IRA when you turn 59 years of age! Plus I’m sure his ex-wife got half of that in the divorce since Wisconsin is a 50-50 State.
Back the badge?
Ha
To all the cop suckers out there. Back the badge.
Of course you back and respect the badge, there are bad apples in every profession. This does not give society the right to go wild and say fuck the police.
How about the badge respect the citizens?
My background check is crystal clear, by your attitude I can tell you had negative interactions with LE and probably a lengthy criminal record. It’s simple, don’t break the law and you can go your entire life not having to associate with law enforcement.
Where have you been the last 20+ years? Police, in general, have lost the public’s respect. The integrity that once was, is now gone.
That’s because the moral fabric of this country is gone. Don’t be so dismissive or so easy to accept how ‘the last 20 years’ have been. The younger generation has learned to show less respect to most everyone- because their parents suck nowadays and don’t instill that trait with their children. Where does most of how kids behave originate???? With their parents. So many parents suck as leaders nowadays.
By and large, they do respect the citizens.
Now dry up and blow away.
I think that’s what’s known as “Government Work”. It happens at all levels everywhere. Everyone would love to have a government job: Great pay, great benefits, and room for advancement. After a probationary period, long-term employment is guaranteed, especially if unions are involved. We are seeing this play out on a national level.
They’re all hiring all the time- you should apply
“Personnel matters” is often used as a kind of evasive buzz phrase. This sounds like one of the situations where it’s spot on. Dealing with a problem employee and/or an employee with problems is complicated, time consuming and costly, especially if it’s a tenured employee. There are times when “sign here and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out” is the best solution. It brings cost-effective certainty and closure to all concerned. There is no guarantee that termination will be upheld after arbitration and legal challenges, especially in the absence of criminal wrongdoing (which sounds like the case here). Sounds like everyone did the right thing. Burnout and mental illness are real things that happen to real people, including good people.
Pensions are federally protected, the money belongs to the individual that earned that money. If you recall, the only asset OJ Simpson couldn’t have taken was his pension.
All these comments about “burn-out”, sure it happens and it can happen in any job. This guy was to be investigating real life cases with real victims….this could have been YOU or YOUR family. Cases closed with little to no work. No excuse, no bullshit for burn out to do this. Ridiculous.
Exactly right. What a disservice to the community.
Burnout? How could this guy get burned out? He took 2+hr lunches everyday. Didn’t start “working” on any caseload until after his first hour in the building and was always done early too. He is a real piece of shit. No excuses.
Facts!
Wonder why he didn’t like being in supervision. All he did was check in for the first couple hours, assign out cases and then went and sat at his house for the next 5-6hrs before returning to close the shift. This is the truth.
Yeah, lol. Another real potential black eye for the department! They all know this shit is happening but don’t address it until they get caught. And remember this hero Patton used to LEAD the Det. Bureau too. Why didn’t he make these changes then.
He can’t be everywhere. There’s alot of people on the kpd. The main thing os he’s making corrections so it hopefully doesn’t happen again in the future
Sounds like you have first hand knowlege. I bet you couldn’t find him when you had a question or needed a report signed!
Me and many others.
It probably required him to do more work and he would create more paperwork and responsibilities for him. No sitting at home for 5-6 hours sitting in his fat ass at home!
What they really need at that department is a full-time cop to work with the employees regarding mental health, check in on work injuries and address burnout. They should probably promote this person to a supervisor level too.
Oh wait, they have had this for years. She doesn’t do shit.
And some of her colleagues had to do her work for her! She sits in an office, makes her own hours and doesn’t do real police work.
Cop that didn’t carry a gun for years…..
Another thing that was allowed to ride for years before being forced to make it right. Leadership.
Years ago there was a rumor about officers/detectives who were untruthful or had some skeletons in their closets and the DA would not use them in court. It was a very “under the table” thing that few knew about. There was unconfirmed talk that the DA office had a list of those people. It was not talked about but some people heard about this. If you want to research cases you know that the officer was involved with and she/he does not testify, you need to ask why. Not every officer needs to testify on each case-that’s up to the DA/Courts, but if an officer does not testify over a period of a few years…..well that tells a story. Also, agents who worked in the fraud department had many ways to close cases using the “it’s a civil thing” as their crutch.
It sounds like you are describing the Brady list.
When you say pensions belong to person that earned it isn’t always true. My ex gave her half to my kids as beneficiary. I’m not against my kids getting it but I “assumed” I and second wife would receive it when my ex passed away. Nope
Hasn’t this detective been in the Brady list for several years?
I don’t know if it was called that at the time but rumors say he was. Sent him to Fraud where every case can be made to be a civil case and court testimony is a minimum. Maybe he should have been a court officer!
Wait, is this how he can afford a high end Lincoln Navigator? Those vehicles are nearing $100k, how the hell he afford that on a detective salary? Wondering if there is more to this story….
It’s called overtime. You could make $10k/year in OT without even trying. Also he had the other business. He was making six figures easily. And remember you can lease cars….of make payments over 6 years…..
Jason I love you and appreciate you Mr so many don’t even understand the cut throat hate that goes on 😞 your amazing and your worth so much Mr
*you’re
I do not believe he was on the Brady list.
It would be nice if we knew.
Who wouldn’t want to see all this corruption Department has created ? Its astounding. First, research about more about what happened in August 2020. The city, the mayor and all of the Police force got paid handsomely to promote creating the civil unrest. We know how lies, negligent and lazy they are of LEO’S. It stems from not caring about their constituents and citizens. Nothing is improving and is actually getting worse in your city. How does the municipality not think their constituents and their citizens all so stupid ?? Too many can see through their BS.
Yeah and if you were offered a healthy raise or promotion you would have given it back or turned it down???
You are a complete stooge. First off, your ‘comment’ really makes little sense. Secondly, I’d bet you truly have little clue as to what they were dealing with during that low point in time. All the hard work that was done to keep jackasses like you safe. 24/7 by the way. I’m curious where you come up with that they “promoted the unrest”. Its shameful that I even responded to this because you’re THAT stupid.
Government gansters at work. The people who should be reporting this are the journalists, who instead for the most part are complicit and remain so.
Thanks for reporting on this, Kevin. It’s worth noting that once again this story can only be found at Kenosha County Eye, home to many exclusive stories. Quick question for those citing burnout as a reason for Melichar’s resignation: why would he take on owning a business if burned out by his full-time KPD job?
Something with less pressure.
Because cops make shit money. Half their salary goes to union, benefits etc.
26 years of ripping off the public, The KPD should investigate how many people he sent to jail with false testimony and lies.
Well that’s a big shock to all of us. A lazy detective! Truth in sentencing should apply both ways.
All that training, all that experience, all that laziness!
Should have been forced to go back to the road and start over after he gave supervision up—he was past the probationary/turn back period. Instead, miraculously a job was opened for him and he was allowed to come right back into the bureau. Funny how that works for one of the boys!
Knowing personally the many unscrupulous acts and behavior of all of the LEO agencies in the area, I speak for neighbors who want investigative reporting and discipline to those LEO and their supervisors. I am embarrassed with how much they’ve gotten away with in the last 35 years. I can’t even get the attorney generals to care.
Piece of shit. Victims trusted this guy!
There is no burnout in law enforcement. If an officer is “stressed,” they need to take time off until they are fit for duty again or face termination. This situation reflects poorly on their supervisor and peers, who did not take the responsibility entrusted to them seriously enough. Closing cases without a valid reason is unacceptable. He should consider going to Rock County with Carli and wifey Jess, as he might do well there.
Another great report Mr. KM. Now our DA will have to investigate all the cases this detective was handling and ensure the people of Kenosha receive the attention they should have gotten with all cases assigned to the overwhelmed detective.
By the way, is anyone ever going to REOPEN the Baby River case?
No, the investigation is NOT complete. KM needs to Open Record request the internal investigation and see just how many people this has effected. Clearly the KPD was investigating for 3 months so this must encompass a large number of cases or they were buying time and hoping the attention would just go away.
Kevin won’t do that! His KPD handlers won’t let him go much further. Funny how he knew about this media release 5 minutes after it came out. Handlers like to handle.
5mins after, had a story ready and quotes in place….. hmmmmm
You must not know me very well. #1 I’ve already requested the entire investigatory file. State statute 19.356 means that it won’t be for another 6 to 8 weeks until I receive it. #2 I wrote an article about a detective that was very damaging to his reputation and the reputation of the police department. How is this evidence that I am being handled by anybody within the department? If I was handled, I wouldn’t have written anything. The Kenosha snooze would have never touched this. The man made a mistake, but doesn’t deserve to have his life ruined. You however, seem very disgruntled
If it weren’t for Kevin, everyone’s eyes would still be closed and no one would have a clue what is happening within Kenosha County!! Thank you, Kevin for opening our eyes and keeping us all informed, as it is appalling how many groomers/pedophiles, amongst other things that are going on and being buried!!
Keep up the great work, as there are a lot of us who appreciate all of your hard work!!
A mistake is something done once or twice. This was NOT a mistake, this was countless days and cases of him saying “I don’t give an F about the victims”. Why is your reporting son different between a KPD and KUSD story? Didn’t they just make “mistakes” too?