KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A recent federal appellate court decision has brought renewed attention to the hiring history of a Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy who was previously fired by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office over allegations involving a police academy “cheat sheet” before later being hired in Wisconsin, where he was subsequently disciplined for a body-camera policy violation and later became the subject of a citizen complaint alleging racism and harassment that the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office ultimately determined was unfounded, according to federal court records and internal documents obtained by Kenosha County Eye.

On Sept. 30, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a published opinion affirming the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Deputy Patrick L. Jones Jr. against the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and one of its command staff members following Jones’ termination in 2019.

Jones was hired by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in September 2019 and sent to the University of Illinois Police Training Institute as part of his required law-enforcement training. During the academy, Jones obtained a Google Drive document titled “State Exam Review 17-7.5” from his then-girlfriend, who had previously graduated from another police academy.

According to federal court records, Jones later discussed or displayed the document to fellow recruits. One recruit reported concerns that Jones may have possessed answers to the Illinois state law-enforcement certification examination, triggering an internal investigation by academy officials.

Jones maintained throughout the investigation and later litigation that he believed the document was merely a legitimate “study guide” and did not realize it allegedly contained questions and answers from a prior version of the state exam.

However, investigators with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board concluded the document was a known “cheat sheet” connected to a previous investigation. In its Sept. 30, 2025 opinion, the Seventh Circuit described the document as “a cheat sheet for a prior version of the Illinois state law enforcement exam.”

The appellate court wrote that the document contained numerous numbered entries consisting of questions and answers, including abbreviated prompts and responses. The district court later noted that the document appeared designed to provide recruits with answers to the state exam rather than teach underlying material.

The Police Training Institute’s assistant director, Joseph Gallo, conducted an investigation and ultimately recommended Jones be allowed to remain in training, concluding Jones may not have fully understood what the document actually was. Nevertheless, leadership within the Lake County Sheriff’s Office disagreed.

On Sept. 30, 2019, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office terminated Jones’ employment after less than one month with the agency. In a termination letter authored by Undersheriff Lawrence Oliver, the agency stated Jones’ actions and responses during the investigation “fall short of the truthfulness and integrity that are essential to the core standard of values we hold ourselves accountable to in law enforcement.”

Jones later filed a federal lawsuit against the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Oliver, alleging defamation and violations of his occupational-liberty rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. Jones argued the sheriff’s office ignored the academy investigator’s recommendation, falsely portrayed him as dishonest, and damaged his law-enforcement career.

The lawsuit ultimately failed.

In March 2023, a federal judge granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, ruling that the statements in the termination letter were protected opinions based upon disclosed facts and that Oliver was immune from liability under Illinois law. Jones appealed, but the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal last fall.

The appellate court noted that after being fired, Jones unsuccessfully applied to 27 law-enforcement agencies before eventually obtaining employment with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. The court also stated Jones applied to the Des Plaines Police Department but “did not receive an offer after he disclosed his previous termination and failed a polygraph test question about his prior use or sale of ‘any illegal narcotics or drugs.’”

Records obtained by Kenosha County Eye show Jones was hired by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 4, 2022, as Deputy #67 with badge number 389.

Internal records obtained by Kenosha County Eye also show Jones later became the subject of a citizen complaint while employed in Kenosha County.

In June 2024, a woman filed a complaint alleging Jones harassed her during an overnight traffic stop near Bristol. The woman alleged Jones followed her vehicle, changed the alleged speed he claimed she was traveling, repeatedly questioned her whereabouts, and made comments she perceived as intimidating and inappropriate. She also accused Jones of acting “unprofessional, racist, and harassing.”

According to internal investigative records, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office reviewed squad video, GPS data, and body-camera footage from another responding deputy. Investigators ultimately determined the allegations against Jones were “unfounded.” The records state investigators found no evidence Jones acted in a racist, harassing, or unprofessional manner during the encounter.

However, the same records state Jones’ own body camera was not activated during the traffic stop. Jones reportedly stated he was unaware the camera was off.

Separate records from January 2025 show Jones later received a documented counseling session after turning off his body camera during a civil-related call for service. According to the counseling memo, another deputy requested Jones stop recording while leaving a residence. Jones then deactivated the camera before the encounter had fully concluded.

The sheriff’s office determined the recording should have remained active under department policy. Jones was formally counseled, and the memo warned that future violations “may result in disciplinary action.”

Kenosha County Eye reached out to Sheriff David Zoerner and Deputy Patrick Jones for comment regarding Jones’ hiring history, federal litigation, and subsequent internal records. As of publication, no response had been received. Kenosha County Eye has previously sought comment from both regarding these matters without response. If either responds, this story will be updated.