(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
SOMERS, Wis. — A Village of Somers resident and Racine County Sheriff’s detective has allegedly been placed on administrative leave for the third time this year, according to multiple law enforcement sources. The Racine County Sheriff’s Office will not confirm or deny his leave status. In repeated emails, their Professional Standards lieutenant refused to answer even the most basic questions about whether Detective Emil J. Ortiz, 37, is currently on leave, why it occurred, or how many times it has happened. Internal affairs documents show that Ortiz has also been placed on a performance improvement plan, reflecting long-standing concerns about his work quality and conduct.
The growing list of incidents involving Ortiz now includes two domestic disturbances, an arrest, bruising documented on both parties, a refusal by prosecutors to charge him, a misplaced evidence incident, a failed search-warrant performance, and a high-risk mishandling of an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) laptop that he took home and used for his personal DJ business.
(Racine County Sheriff’s Office)
First Domestic Incident: April 4, 2025 – Ortiz Arrested
In the first domestic disturbance, Kenosha County deputies responded to the Ortiz home and documented visible injuries. Reports show that Ortiz was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct with the domestic-abuse enhancer. His wife, Anessa Ortiz, also had signs of injury and made statements that conflicted with the physical evidence. Deputies determined that Ortiz was the aggressor.
The case was referred to the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, which refused to prosecute.
Second Domestic Incident: June 18, 2025 – Bruising and Contradictory Statements
In a second incident later that year, deputies again responded to a disturbance involving Ortiz and Anessa. This time, Anessa had visible bruising on her arm and shoulder, while Ortiz had fresh scratches and marks on his face and neck. Body-worn camera footage from an earlier related incident shows Ortiz grabbing Anessa and pulling her out of their vehicle. Anessa was listed as a suspect in one of the domestic incidents, depending on the statements each party made at the time.
Records indicate Ortiz was placed on administrative leave during this investigation. In a later phone call, the Professional Standards lieutenant told Ortiz he was “no longer on administrative leave” and needed to return to duty. Ortiz himself admitted he brought home the ICAC laptop during his “most recent administrative leave,” acknowledging there had been more than one.
ICAC Laptop Taken Home — Possible CSAM Exposure
The documents reveal that Ortiz took home an ICAC MacBook Pro, a highly sensitive device used exclusively for child-exploitation investigations, including previews of seized electronics that may contain child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to the forensic report:
- The ICAC laptop was found in Ortiz’s home.
- The previous user profile was registered to him.
- The computer was connected to multiple public Wi-Fi networks across the region, including bars, bowling alleys, restaurants, and Ortiz’s own phone hotspot.
- The device contained Serato DJ Lite, software he used for his personal DJ business.
- Safari history showed non-work browsing.
A longtime member of the Wisconsin DOJ’s ICAC Task Force told Kenosha County Eye that removing an ICAC laptop from the office — especially into a private home — is a serious breach of protocol. The same expert said connecting such a device to public Wi-Fi “opens the door” to unintended CSAM exposure, contamination, or unauthorized access. The analyst explained that if the laptop had recently been used during a child-exploitation case, CSAM files or thumbnails could have been present.
Ortiz never reported taking the laptop home, and internal investigators could find no legitimate reason he would have needed it off-site.
Search-Warrant Failure: Officer-Safety Breakdown
In a separate disciplinary case from a February 2024 search warrant, Ortiz believed he discovered a dead body in a basement. He left the suspect unsearched and unrestrained, allowed her to retrieve an unknown item from behind a couch, and then permitted her to climb past him and ascend the stairs. He did not activate his body camera and did not follow officer-safety protocols. This resulted in a verbal reprimand.
Evidence Mishandling: Lost Blood Kit
In another disciplinary file, Ortiz lost a legal blood-draw kit after placing it on top of a vehicle during an OWI arrest in 2019. The kit was never recovered. He received a reprimand for failure to maintain control of critical evidence.
Performance Concerns
A performance investigation into Ortiz found recurring problems with:
- Inefficiency
- Work quality
- Report-writing delays
- Neglect of duty
He was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan, but no significant corrective action followed.
No Serious Discipline Taken
Despite the arrests, repeated domestic incidents, the bruising documented by deputies, the loss of evidence, the search-warrant failures, the mishandled ICAC laptop, unauthorized personal use of a child-exploitation device, and the now-suspected third leave of the year, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office has not imposed meaningful discipline. Prior outcomes include counseling, reprimands, and performance notes — but no suspension or termination.
The agency has also declined to explain why Ortiz was allegedly placed on administrative leave for a third time this year or what prompted the most recent leave. Their refusal to answer even the most basic questions has raised further concern among law enforcement insiders, who say the ongoing pattern of misconduct is well-known but rarely addressed.
More records are expected to be released in the coming months.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
32 Responses
No consequences equals no change in behavior.
This is toddler 101.
It’s a shame that the department needs to, (even though they haven’t) discipline this guy.
But they haven’t. Wishing it to go away doesn’t make it go away.
Now the only decision is Separation.
That’s what they call Firing someone these days, isn’t it ??
I could have bet on this and won big. Considering his job we are lucky someone isn’t dead
I wouldn’t even assume that nobody is dead. It’s possible that the death report was misplaced 🤣
Some people shouldn’t be cops
He’s a cop. We can do no wrong. Back the blue!
KEA, WEAC, AFT and NEA just walked into the room….
“HOLD MY BEER”
I new there was a problem with this guy first came up, protect our city and get these people out.
I once had a plumber who said he fixed the problem but he didn’t fix the problem. All plumbers are corrupt.
Plumbers don’t have to protect people and solve crimes dumbass
This piece of shit has power over people and should not
Speacking of plumbing, if it’s brown flush it down 🤮
If it’s blue flush it
And if it’s you, flush it twice. Cut it in half if it doesn’t flush the first time.
dumbass
Somers. Need I say more. Oh yeah. King George and his minions
Quit hating bro lol
Why does this dude get away with so much incompetent actions and nothing as far as discipline ever happens? Why is the Racine county sheriff’s office not commenting to KCE? Someone from there is protecting this guy. He needs to quit, he is not fit to be a deputy!
He’s just another piece of shit loser. No better than the criminals he arrests.
The fact that he’s a DJ, says it all. DJ Douche bag.
DJ Dipshit
Usual suspects
Tough guy, this piece is shit should never be able to ‘protect and serve’ the community again when he can’t even protect his own loved ones from his abuse. Take the badge and gun away, now!
I only have a GED in law, but wouldn’t his actions with the computer essentially quash any ongoing CSAM investigations? Any Defense Attorney worth a damn would argue that the chain of custody for the evidence has been compromised.
If this had been Milwaukee PD, and he had been a white cop…he would have been gone a long time ago.
What is up with some of these government employees? Remember when it actually took something to get hired by a government entity- back when there were requirements beyond a pulse? What’s up with the Government not firing people who truly deserve to lose their jobs, but penalizing the hard workers who may not toe the BS line?
Kenosha Highways Superintendent Freitag, who spent ten years stealing half of his salary from taxpayers, is so bad at his job it’s horrifying, and isn’t trusted by anyone in the department… besides Greg Boldt— who also isn’t trusted by anyone in the department—but just got a bunch more money from the incompetent county board.
Freitag is still around? I figured he was on his way out five years ago. He was a piece of shit back then.
Don’t worry, Ortiz. Given some of Zoerner’s recent hires, your misdeeds are probably a good resume builder for a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office job.
Get yourself a nice purse, Emil… and try not to hit any women with it. I know that might be asking for too much since your hobbies include beating women and being so insecure it affects your job performance.
Nobody is going to listen to a DJ that watches child porn. You might bring the wrong laptop to the venue.
Being put on three leaves is crazy work. I hate a man that doesn’t know how to work. Useless
So his wife is continuing to become a victim without a voice, over & over & over. How can he enforce the law when he’s continuing to break the law, over & over again. Let me me guess the said laptop was probably him watching child crimes. Legally!! We all know he did something VERY BAD. To now be placed on a much needed leave. Someone definitely needs to make sure his wife is ok & safe seeing as how he takes his anger out on her
Is this the same guy who will protect the gangs and put innocent life’s in jeopardy. I think so..has a few buddies that are like him in the police system. Putting good officers life’s in harms way. SAD Remember, their’s rogue people in every walk of life. That’s why it’s called organized crime one hand washes the other. Still I will back the badge and all law enforcement. Just had the Big Bust in Kenosha. Thank you to all the good ones that take these horrific criminals off the streets.
It is called DEMOCRAT PRIVILEGE.
Racine and Kenosha are absolutely RANCID with it.
How can you say that. Cops are all MAGA Cult members. The Racine County Sheriff is as red as a festering pimple on Trump’s ass.
You are not very bright.
Put the Kenosha DAs office on the Naughty List for not charging officer Ortiz!