KENOSHA, Wis., — December is here, and that means another round of Kenosha County Eye’s Naughty and Nice Lists — our ongoing, twice-weekly rundown of who’s helping this community shine and who’s giving residents a migraine. Nominations continue pouring in by email, text message, and our anonymous tip form, and as always, we publish them exactly as submitted. Love it or hate it, this list belongs to the people of Kenosha County.

Below are today’s picks.

NAUGHTY LIST

• Kenosha County Prosecutors Who Left Due to Politics
Several courthouse sources say these prosecutors didn’t walk away because of workload, burnout, or family obligations — they walked away because of politics. And in doing so, they forgot why this job exists. As one person put it: they forgot the “why.”
They forgot that the job is supposed to be about victims — not about political comfort or ideological disagreements with leadership. The community deserves prosecutors who stay for the right reasons, not ones who bail when their political preferences aren’t met.

• Supplemental Court Commissioners Tracey Braun and David Hughes
Braun and Hughes were nominated for the Naughty List by multiple readers — and for good reason. Supplemental court commissioners are supposed to be fill-ins, stepping up during emergencies or when the primary commissioners are unavailable. Instead, these two seem to appear constantly, and both use their time on the bench to push liberal activism rather than follow sound judicial principles.
Braun recently released a self-admitted child predator on just $50,000 bail, sending him back home to a terrified neighborhood. Both commissioners repeatedly set extremely low bails for violent or repeat offenders, signaling to the community that second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth chances are the norm. If they want to be activists, they shouldn’t do it from behind the bench.

• Judge Chad Kerkman
According to multiple nominations, Judge Chad Kerkman has something seriously wrong with him psychologically. He was placed on the Naughty List for firing retired United States Air Force veteran West Jacobs — simply because Jacobs shared Kenosha County Eye articles. Kerkman has gained a reputation as a nasty, erratic man and an even worse judge, and this latest episode shows exactly why people across the county are fed up. The dude is a maniac.

• Whoever Invented “6/7”
Every generation has its cringe, but this one takes the cake. “6/7” is the stupidest tween fad in recent memory. It makes no sense, it’s irritating, and every time someone says it out loud, I want to jam a knitting needle into my eardrums. Whoever invented this nonsense deserves a lump of coal big enough to crush a Kia.

• Village of Bristol Administrator Randy Kerkman and Village President Mike Farrell
These two have led a long and shameful crusade against a mixed-race family in Bristol, blocking them from building their dream home. Nominations describe both Kerkman and Farrell as racists who weaponize their offices to flex that racism — wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in the process. They should settle the lawsuit and do the right thing for once.

• Village of Twin Lakes Board
This board, made up of career politicians, consistently does the wrong thing. They push favors for friends, rely on bad attorneys who give terrible public-records advice, and lost a huge case — wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Every single member should step aside and let competent leadership take over.

NICE LIST

• Kenosha Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Justin Miller
Miller was nominated by several deputies who praised his steady leadership, open-door policy, and encyclopedic knowledge of the department. He has served in high-ranking roles for years and helped shape the Sheriff’s Office into a highly professional, well-respected agency. His reputation for fairness, calm under pressure, and genuine commitment to his deputies makes him an easy addition to today’s Nice List.

• Judge Angelina Gabriele
Gabriele was nominated for volunteering her own time to help wrap gifts for Shop With a Cop — a small gesture that brought big smiles to local kids. At the same time, she is presiding over one of the most challenging murder trials of the year, involving a pro se defendant who has tested the patience of everyone in the courtroom. Through it all, she has remained stoic, firm, and fair. A well-earned Nice List placement.

• Kenosha Detective Pete Deates
After 23 years of service, Detective Pete Deates is retiring at the end of the year — and he was nominated by coworkers and community members alike. As covered in Kenosha County Eye’s recent profile, Deates was instrumental in creating the ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) unit in Kenosha, which has undoubtedly saved countless children and brought dangerous predators to justice. His dedication, professionalism, and compassion throughout his career have earned him both admiration and his spot on today’s Nice List.

• Brittany Miller, Judge David Wilk, and ADA Jakelyn Karabetsos
These three were nominated in connection with yesterday’s inspiring treatment court graduation, which Kenosha County Eye covered in depth. Their work represents the best of what the criminal justice system can be: accountability, compassion, and real change.
Karabetsos was praised for her commitment and belief in the program. Judge Wilk was celebrated for his steady, compassionate leadership. Miller was recognized for her support for participants during their most challenging moments. Together, they help rebuild lives — and that is exactly what the Nice List is for.

• Kenosha Detectives Eric Kukowski and Tim Cepress
These two were nominated by several KPD officers who described them as, quote, “badass detectives,” end quote. They routinely handle some of the city’s most serious cases, including homicides, and are widely respected for their skill and tenacity.
And on a lighter note: years ago, before I ever became a “gossip blogger,” Cepress gave me a warning for rolling a stop sign — so obviously he had to make the Nice List eventually, right? Today, both detectives earn their place.