KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Kenosha County Sheriff David W. Zoerner is facing growing criticism from within his own department and the wider community after beginning an initiative to place “Sheriff David W. Zoerner” lettering on all county patrol squad cars. The move comes just over halfway into his term, with his next election scheduled for fall 2026.

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The lettering project is expected to cost taxpayers thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, but the exact price remains unknown. Deputies, community members, and local officials have questioned both the timing and purpose of the initiative, calling it an unnecessary expense that provides no legitimate benefit to law enforcement operations. Several deputies told Kenosha County Eye that if the sheriff truly wanted his name on the fleet, it should have been done when he first took office in January 2023—not more than two years into his term about a year before the next election.

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Some have accused the sheriff of using the lettering as a campaign tool at taxpayer expense. Questions about the project’s costs and justification were sent to Zoerner by email and text message, but he declined to respond. Kenosha County Eye will be following up with a public records request to obtain the financial details.

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Meanwhile, other problems with the county’s vehicle fleet are drawing attention. At the Kenosha County Detention Center, more than two dozen brand-new squad cars are sitting idle and have not yet been outfitted for patrol use. At the same time, deputies continue to drive older vehicles that are breaking down more frequently and require costly maintenance. Joint Services, which is jointly funded by city and county taxpayers, is responsible for outfitting squad cars, but according to deputies, the sheriff has refused to consider alternative options to speed up the process.

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Unlike municipal police departments, Kenosha County deputies are issued take-home vehicles due to the size of the jurisdiction they cover. This makes the condition and availability of squad cars a critical issue for deputies and the public. Several deputies—despite warnings from the sheriff that they could lose their jobs for speaking to Kenosha County Eye—have continued to come forward with concerns about the lettering project, the aging fleet, and the lack of transparency from the sheriff’s office.

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As the 2026 election approaches, critics argue the new squad car lettering amounts to taxpayer-funded campaign advertising, while urgent issues with the department’s vehicles remain unresolved.

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