Dangerous New Phone System For Kenosha Police, Fire and Sheriff’s Department Needs To Be Fixed…NOW: Opinion

Copied!
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Squad Car
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

If you have an emergency in Kenosha County, please dial 9-1-1. If you take away anything from this op ed, please know that. Most people are not shy to dial 9-1-1. This author was a 9-1-1 call-taker and dispatcher for a call center that served six police departments and two fire departments, taking non-emergency calls and 9-1-1 calls thousands of times. Many people abuse the 9-1-1 system for parking complaints or other frivolous issues. The reverse is also true. Something that many people don’t know, but those of us that have worked in the public safety field do know, is that many people call the non-emergency line for actual emergencies. Many people are hesitant and even nervous about calling 9-1-1. This author has taken hundreds of non-emergency calls from people with real emergencies, such as elderly people having severe chest paint, turning out to be suffering from a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Many calls on the non-emergency line from wives who were being beaten by drunk husbands. That is why a non-emergency line needs to be treated as an emergency line. Up until recently, it was in Kenosha County. Not it places alternate-side parking ahead of the need for police or EMS. If you google “Kenosha Police Non Emergency” or “Kenosha Sheriff Non Emergency” the result is the same, 262-656-1234. It’s an easy number to remember, for a specific reason. My old non-emergency line was 847-270-9111. See what they did there?

Paid Advertisement

If you dial 262-656-1234 for the first time, you will not be on the line with a dispatcher, but a recorded message. It will take you 60 seconds or more to determine which button to press to talk to a dispatcher. You would think the very first option, one, would be for a dispatcher. Wrong. It’s the last, number seven. Let’s look at the options that were deemed more important than speaking with a live person:

Paid Advertisement
  1. Reports, Open Records Requests, Records Department
  2. Jail Inmates
  3. Administrative Office for Kenosha Police, M-F
  4. Administrative Office for Kenosha Sheriff M-F
  5. Alternate Side Parking
  6. Paying Parking Tickets
  7. To Speak with Dispatcher and Get Help

Here is a video of me calling the non-emergency number today, 8-27-2022 (I said “5” and meant “7”) :

Paid Advertisement


KCE emailed the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Sheriff, 9-1-1 Director, all County Board Supervisors, All Aldermen, The Mayor, City Administrator, 9-1-1 Board Chairman, The Mayor and the County Executive. So far no one wants to take credit for this very dangerous decision. Don’t worry, I will find out and let you know.

Paid Advertisement

At the very least, the option for talking to a dispatcher should be moved up to number one. The best option would be to get rid of this disastrous new design meant to weed out people who call for benign reasons. 262-656-1234 should be answered by a live dispatcher, ready to send police or fire, PERIOD. This isn’t a DMV phone system. This is a lifeline for 200,000 people for f*** sake. We also have a 9-1-1 director, Josh Nielsen who’s poor leadership has forced a mass exodus of dispatchers, leaving our 9-1-1 center under-staffed. At best, the 9-1-1 board should fire Nielsen and fix the phone mistake.

Paid Advertisement

If you have called the non-emergency line in the last few weeks and had help delayed, I want to know about it. Please call, text, or email me.

Paid Advertisement

Kevin E. Mathewson
262-237-8501
Kenoshacountyeye@gmail.com

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS
Plus +

GTC President Authorized Mass Employee Payouts Weeks Before Stepping Down

Ritu Raju (D) – President, Gateway Technical College KENOSHA, Wis. – Just weeks before her planned departure, Gateway Technical College President Dr. Ritu Raju authorized a large-scale payout to all regular employees—an expenditure some estimated could cost taxpayers between $1 million and $2 million. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Placed on Leave Again After Second Domestic Incident

Emil J. Ortiz, 41, of Somers, WI(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SOMERS, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy who was previously arrested in April for an alleged drunken domestic assault is once again on leave after a second domestic disturbance was reported at his home in Somers. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

MORE TOP STORIES

Extra Prosecutors, Tax Cuts, and Dunes Protection: What Kenosha Gets in the New State Budget

MADISON, Wis. – The recently signed 2025–27 Wisconsin state budget includes several key wins for Kenosha County—ranging from added muscle in the District Attorney’s Office to millions in environmental preservation and taxpayer relief. State Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie) touted the package as a hard-fought, Republican-led effort that delivers tax

Plus +

Man Faces New Felony Charges Including Possession of Child Pornography, Escape

Jeremy D. Walker, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Kenosha man with a prior felony conviction is facing four new criminal charges after authorities allege he fled from police during a probation check and was later found in possession of child pornography. You must be logged

Plus +

Man Charged with Possessing Image of Naked Child; $10,000 Bail Set

Thomas P. Moffat, 62, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff) SALEM LAKES, Wis. – A 62-year-old Salem Lakes man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he possessed a sexually explicit image of a naked child on his cell phone. You must be logged in to view the rest of

Steil Votes for Bill to Cut Taxes, Strengthen Border, and Protect Seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) cast a key vote this week in favor of H.R. 1, sweeping legislation aimed at reducing costs for families, delivering tax relief to seniors, and bolstering border security. The bill, which passed both chambers of Congress, now heads to President Trump for signature.

Categories
Archives
Authors

34 Responses

    1. Thank you for the corrections. I’m not a extremely educated man. My strengths are investigating and not writing/grammar/spelling.

  1. If someone can’t tell the difference between a real emergency and a non-emergency, it’s on them.
    Why dumb down a system for dumb people?

    1. I am sorry to tell you that your remarks are incredibly dumb. A simple change in the order of the prompts is all that it would take to make the system safer and more effective.

      All of us have someone in our lives who is “dumb” and could be harmed by waiting for prompt #7 to talk to a dispatcher. Imagine your child or elderly parent or friend who becomes “dumb” due to the stressful situation for which they are seeking help. It could even happen to you.

      Did you really think this through or are you just plain dumb?

      1. You seem angry at my comment. That’s dumb of you.
        Also, It’s very obvious to Most People what’s an emergency and what’s not. ?‍♂️

        1. I am somewhat stunned that a normal human being would make such a comment.

          Maybe you are smart enough to know what is a true emergency. Sometimes other people in our lives and family may not know and may have their judgement clouded by stress. To me, it is dumb to not make a simple change in the prompts to make it easier for these people. Why shouldn’t we expect that our government be competent?

          Maybe that is beyond you.

          1. I’m not for changing things to accommodate a smaller margin of people. Not in this case. If this is getting you upset, seek help..

  2. To Saturn:

    The Nazis had the same attitude. I guess you are not a normal human being.

    I do not need any help. It is you that has the traits of anti-social personality disorder. You need the help. The more you write, the more it shows.

          1. Saturn: You really are stupid.

            Q is giving you shit and you thank him?

            It is called satire. It requires a higher level of intellect to understand. You don’t have this higher level of thinking, thus, it goes right over your head.

  3. To Biker Bitch: Duh, I’m not going to argue on here forever.
    I bet you’re so fat and ugly a “tough woman” that looks fucking hideous. Even your name is disgusting ?

  4. I sure recognize that pickup truck, it’s the one that tailgated my ass on Highway C coming home from the county fair.

    1. Probably because you were going painfully slow and needed more time to think about what snarky comment to make as soon as you got your keyboard back in your hands.

      1. How fast do you suggest driving when there is a squad sitting in your mirror? I was doing about five over in a 40 mph zone and it was doing about 50, seems like a poor plan for me to be doing 50 in a 40.

  5. The goal is to get some of the nuisance calls out of the call centers. Calling 911 in an emergency is taught at the beginning levels of school. People should have figured it out by now. Telecommunicators are there to get your emergency and non-emergency fire, rescue and LE services to you, not direct you on how to get an accident report or put you through to the sheriff.

    With some “investigative” reporting you would be able to report on the nationwide shortage of telecommunicators. This is true of JS and some of the smallest and largest call centers in the US.

    Morale is influenced by many factors. Stress from being on the front line of tragedy, forced overtime, work hours, low pay, call centers often being the jumping off point for people that want to be in firs/LE jobs, better pay and hours in private industry and the list goes on. Management may be an issue but there are bigger concerns.

    There was recently an investigative article from a respected national source that highlighted the difficulty that governments are having in hiring and retaining employees.

    Focus your opinions on the true problems.

    1. There are many “true problems.”

      There’s a lot of pressure on dispatchers and they are further kept isolated from the people they serve by the working conditions — in some ways like being in jail.

    2. Some good points as well. It seems many of these problems exacerbated with the growth of “call centers” in which dispatchers became far more isolated. It started to some extent with the idea that “civilians” could be paid less than officers who used to do these jobs. That was the case in most agencies although the Iowa Highway Patrol paid dispatchers the same base as troopers but without the extra per diem and uniform/equipment allowances (and they got some great dispatchers). Non-sworn dispatchers used to work for a police agency which means they were part of that department and were trained by and interacted with the rest of the staff (and the public face-to-face) as well. There was far less isolation than today. And, yes, it was a stepping stone for many to become officers (myself included) because good dispatchers must have the mindset of a good officer. I participated in daily roll call, occasionally went out on calls with officers (and rode with each officer) and had specialized training as well. Dispatchers need to understand an officer’s job in order to protect the officer and the public (and in my department the dispatcher’s assignment was an order unless and until countermanded by a sergeant or higher). Not only did you need to know your community but neighboring ones as well because of mutual aid and calls for service received for locations outside city limits. But then the politicians and bean counters came along and decided consolidation, 911 call centers and the like were a good idea and dispatchers became more removed from the officers and the public and the rest of the shit is history. And, yes, agencies who have their own dispatchers did look at them as part of the talent pool for officer vacancies. People you know and have watched develop. Plus, aspiring officers have a strong incentive to do excellent work. As I said, the politicians and bean counters ruined it and computerization and 911 call centers didn’t help much. (And, yes, it IS possible for decentralization with 911.)

      Kevin’s original point was the triumph of bureaucracy over common sense and law enforcement smarts. And, yes, we should be encouraging people to call the non-emergency number (that should be in dispatch) for calls that are important but not a “when second count” situation. What dumbass screwed with the phone system should have his or her ass canned.

  6. Kevin is spot on here — and it is just the tip of the iceberg.

    The Kenosha City-County Joint Services dispatch operation is a time bomb that does not adequately work for the safety of all people in Kenosha County. I do not quibble with the decision to replace police officers with “civilian” dispatchers (cost saving move) that was made in 1982. Good dispatchers are good dispatchers, period.

    The problem is how the system is run. It is beholden to computers and data and not people. Those of us who were dispatchers and officers know this.

    When you call 911 a call taker answers the phone and bombards you with 20 questions or more. This data is entered into a computer database. Then it is relayed to the dispatcher who has to figure out which units are available to send before actually dispatching the call. This moronic data-driven system wastes precious time and delays responses to emergency calls.

    Contrast that with what it was like before that. You call the police (or fire department) with an emergency. The dispatcher gathers the basic information first and IMMEDIATELY dispatches officers to the scene, often while still gathering information from the caller on the phone. A well-trained dispatcher is often helpful in coordinating the law enforcement response on the ground as well.

    The bureaucratic, data driven miscreants who designed and run this inefficient system care more about their own fiefdom than doing what should be job one. (I will concede the ANI technology that shows where a call is coming from is something we didn’t have in the past.)

    Kenosha Joint Services is a farce in another way: no direct law enforcement supervision and control. But nothing will change because politicians run the show.

    1. Call takers STILL gather information WHILE sending services. The call goes in as soon as there’s a call type, address, and brief description. The call taker continues updating details in the CAD (computer-aided dispatch app) while the radio dispatcher has units en route.

      I’m not sure where you got the information that this has changed, but you are 100% incorrect on this.

      Lots of issues need to be addressed inside Joint Services, like the mass exodus of high-senior, well-trained personnel starting in 2016, but you’re off the mark on this one.

      1. I’m not. Typing it in to CAD still takes more time. And then we have the incompetent dispatchers who don’t know the difference between Roosevelt and Washington Road!

    2. Megadittos but you forgot how arrogant, condescending and rude some of the dispatchers have been to citizens, officers, etc. Maybe it’s the working conditions but this bureaucracy needs to be drained.

  7. That phone system was put in place because of the amount of calls dispatchers were getting that weren’t emergencies, taking their attention away from calls that were ACTUAL emergencies. Their call volume has gone down 30-40% because of that list they put in place when calling the NE line. Before it was put in, dispatchers were having to give out phone numbers to people that could’ve just looked it up. They can most certainly move the “to speak to a dispatcher” option but bashing people isn’t going to do it.

    1. Sadly, we don’t have phone books these days in many homes and businesses. Hard to “look it up.:

      Dispatcher pay needs improvement but also working conditions.

  8. Well, the phone problem was partially fixed (thanks KCE) although still not answered by a human. The problems affecting dispatching remain.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS
Plus +

GTC President Authorized Mass Employee Payouts Weeks Before Stepping Down

Ritu Raju (D) – President, Gateway Technical College KENOSHA, Wis. – Just weeks before her planned departure, Gateway Technical College President Dr. Ritu Raju authorized a large-scale payout to all regular employees—an expenditure some estimated could cost taxpayers between $1 million and $2 million. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Placed on Leave Again After Second Domestic Incident

Emil J. Ortiz, 41, of Somers, WI(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SOMERS, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy who was previously arrested in April for an alleged drunken domestic assault is once again on leave after a second domestic disturbance was reported at his home in Somers. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Salem Lakes Administrator Leaving Amid Scandals—Board Still Signals Support for Contract Renewal

SALEM LAKES, Wis. – Cassandra Hiller, the embattled Village Administrator of Salem Lakes, is preparing to leave her position after a tenure filled with controversy, public backlash, and strained government relations. But in a move that has left many residents baffled, Village officials—including President Rita Bucur—reportedly knew she was planning to depart and still expressed support for renewing her contract. Hiller has not

Extra Prosecutors, Tax Cuts, and Dunes Protection: What Kenosha Gets in the New State Budget

MADISON, Wis. – The recently signed 2025–27 Wisconsin state budget includes several key wins for Kenosha County—ranging from added muscle in the District Attorney’s Office to millions in environmental preservation and taxpayer relief. State Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie) touted the package as a hard-fought, Republican-led effort that delivers tax cuts, education investments, UW System reforms, and funding for local priorities long championed

Plus +

Man Faces New Felony Charges Including Possession of Child Pornography, Escape

Jeremy D. Walker, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Kenosha man with a prior felony conviction is facing four new criminal charges after authorities allege he fled from police during a probation check and was later found in possession of child pornography. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Man Charged with Possessing Image of Naked Child; $10,000 Bail Set

Thomas P. Moffat, 62, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff) SALEM LAKES, Wis. – A 62-year-old Salem Lakes man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he possessed a sexually explicit image of a naked child on his cell phone. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Steil Votes for Bill to Cut Taxes, Strengthen Border, and Protect Seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) cast a key vote this week in favor of H.R. 1, sweeping legislation aimed at reducing costs for families, delivering tax relief to seniors, and bolstering border security. The bill, which passed both chambers of Congress, now heads to President Trump for signature. “This bill is a win for Wisconsin workers, families, and seniors,” said Steil

Another Judge Steps Aside in Vanderzee Murder Case, Citing Past Contact with Defendant

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Yet another twist unfolded in the high-profile Vanderzee murder case when Judge Jason Rossell formally recused himself on June 24, citing prior contact with one of the defendants during his time as a prosecutor. According to the court record, Rossell stepped down from presiding over the case due to “prior contact with the defendant as an ADA.” Rossell served

Plus +

Third Arrest in Less Than a Month for Kenosha Man Accused of Repeatedly Violating Court Orders

Ryan M. Phillips, 40, of Kenosha in Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 40-year-old Kenosha man who already faced charges in two felony cases was arrested for a third time in just over three weeks—this time for allegedly violating a domestic abuse no-contact order and making illegal jailhouse calls to the victim. You must be logged in to

Plus +

Mother Accused of Threatening Officers, Neglecting Children at Pool While Allegedly Intoxicated

Lauren M. Leipzig, 37, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha woman is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly passing out at a public pool while responsible for three young children, including her own, and later threatening to have police officers killed. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Kenosha Inmate Charged Again After Second Alleged Jail Assault

Kristina Faith Sargeant, 28, of Kenosha In Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha County Jail inmate already facing felony charges for a previous cell block assault has been charged again—this time for allegedly striking a different inmate in another altercation inside the jail. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

City Employee Who Stole Rebate Funds Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail

Jamie D. Watkins, 54, of Kenosha and Defense Attorney Terry Rose In Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A former City of Kenosha arborist who admitted to stealing rebate checks from the city’s Parks Department was sentenced to 45 days in jail Wednesday by Judge Gerad Dougvillo, who called the theft “a betrayal of public trust.” You must

Plus +

Teen Previously Convicted in School Shooting Case Faces New Felony Gun Charge

Jason Isom Jr., 18, of Kenosha(Kenosha Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha teenager who was previously adjudicated delinquent in connection with a 2022 shooting near Frank Elementary School is now facing five new criminal charges, including felony possession of a firearm, after police say he was caught with a loaded 9mm handgun and marijuana during a traffic stop on July 1. You must

Neglect Charge Filed After Disabled Uncle Found Malnourished and Soiled in Somers Home

SOMERS, Wis. – A Kenosha man has been charged with negligent abuse of an at-risk individual after deputies found his disabled uncle lying incoherent, half-naked, and surrounded by feces in their shared home. Robert Jeremy Warden, 37, appeared in court Tuesday and was charged with one count of negligently subjecting an at-risk individual to abuse—specifically, conditions not likely to cause bodily harm. The

Plus +

Kenosha Man Accused of Tasing and Slapping Teen at Graduation Party

Jeffery W. Grundman, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) WHEATLAND, Wis. — A 34-year-old Kenosha man appeared in court Wednesday on accusations that he tased and slapped a 17-year-old at a graduation party in the Town of Wheatland, allegedly using a stun gun while intoxicated and then threatening violence when confronted. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Neglect Charge Filed After 3-Year-Old Found Wandering Kenosha Street Alone

Mary E. Spates, 35, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 35-year-old Kenosha woman is facing a felony child neglect charge after her 3-year-old son was found outside alone, wearing only underwear, in a high-traffic neighborhood early Sunday morning. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Prospect Heights Man Identified in Fatal Highway 50 Crash

SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Authorities have identified the man killed in last week’s single-vehicle crash on Highway 50 as John B. Douglas, 69, of Prospect Heights, Illinois, according to an update issued Wednesday by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Douglas was driving a full-sized pickup truck eastbound along the 22400 block of State Highway 50 on the evening of Friday, June 27, when

Plus +

Kenosha Judge Rejects Leniency, Jails Former Teacher in Grooming Case

Christian Enwright, 30, of Kenosha Crying in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – Former Kenosha middle school teacher Christian Enwright was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty to 15 counts of disorderly conduct stemming from what prosecutors described as a months-long grooming relationship with a 14-year-old student. Kenosha County

Plus +

Colorado Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Minor at Country Thunder

Ronnie O. Crews, 57, of Parker, Colorado(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A Colorado man appeared in a Kenosha County courtroom Monday to face serious felony charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a minor during the 2017 Country Thunder music festival in the Town of Randall. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

KUSD Announces Honor Roll Students for 2024-2025 School Year

It is with great pride that we share our honor roll students with you. Congratulations to each of our students whose hard work and dedication resulted in this amazing achievement. Keep up the great work! – KUSD Bradford High ‘*’ Indicates straight A’s Students in Grade 9 Elaina Barnard, Alexander Bokota, Charlotte Bradley, *Jocelyn Calero, Kaydi Caron, Morgan Christian, Sophia Coniker, *Dominik Dahlberg,

Interstate Car Theft Ring Busted After KDOG Investigation Leads to Federal Indictments

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. –An abandoned license plate found on a rural Kenosha County highway in 2022 has unraveled what officials say was a highly sophisticated, multi-million-dollar interstate car theft and money laundering operation. The Kenosha County Drug Operations Group (KDOG), working in collaboration with federal and local partners, has helped bring federal charges against 23 individuals, the Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday. Kenosha County

House Fire Destroys Silver Lake Home — Help the Peterson Family Rebuild

On a tragic day in Silver Lake, Jim and Lisa Peterson lost everything when a fire tore through their home on East Depot Street. The fire moved fast and left behind nothing but devastation. While Jim and Lisa thankfully escaped with their lives, they are now left without a home, clothes, or the basic necessities we so often take for granted. Their family

Plus +

Judge Ends Leniency for Trenton Kmiec with 7-Year Prison Sentence

Trenton B. Kmiec, 24, of Salem Lakes and Defense Attorney Benjamin Schwarz In Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – After years of what many saw as unusually light treatment across multiple counties, 25-year-old Trenton B. Kmiec was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison and another seven years of extended supervision. The son of embattled attorney and former

LATEST NEWS
Plus +

GTC President Authorized Mass Employee Payouts Weeks Before Stepping Down

Ritu Raju (D) – President, Gateway Technical College KENOSHA, Wis. – Just weeks before her planned departure, Gateway Technical College President Dr. Ritu Raju authorized a large-scale payout to all regular employees—an expenditure some estimated could cost taxpayers between $1 million and $2 million. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Placed on Leave Again After Second Domestic Incident

Emil J. Ortiz, 41, of Somers, WI(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) SOMERS, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy who was previously arrested in April for an alleged drunken domestic assault is once again on leave after a second domestic disturbance was reported at his home in Somers. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Salem Lakes Administrator Leaving Amid Scandals—Board Still Signals Support for Contract Renewal

SALEM LAKES, Wis. – Cassandra Hiller, the embattled Village Administrator of Salem Lakes, is preparing to leave her position after a tenure filled with controversy, public backlash, and strained government relations. But in a move that has left many residents baffled, Village officials—including President Rita Bucur—reportedly knew she was planning to depart and still expressed support for renewing her contract. Hiller has not

Extra Prosecutors, Tax Cuts, and Dunes Protection: What Kenosha Gets in the New State Budget

MADISON, Wis. – The recently signed 2025–27 Wisconsin state budget includes several key wins for Kenosha County—ranging from added muscle in the District Attorney’s Office to millions in environmental preservation and taxpayer relief. State Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie) touted the package as a hard-fought, Republican-led effort that delivers tax cuts, education investments, UW System reforms, and funding for local priorities long championed

Plus +

Man Faces New Felony Charges Including Possession of Child Pornography, Escape

Jeremy D. Walker, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Kenosha man with a prior felony conviction is facing four new criminal charges after authorities allege he fled from police during a probation check and was later found in possession of child pornography. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Man Charged with Possessing Image of Naked Child; $10,000 Bail Set

Thomas P. Moffat, 62, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff) SALEM LAKES, Wis. – A 62-year-old Salem Lakes man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he possessed a sexually explicit image of a naked child on his cell phone. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Steil Votes for Bill to Cut Taxes, Strengthen Border, and Protect Seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) cast a key vote this week in favor of H.R. 1, sweeping legislation aimed at reducing costs for families, delivering tax relief to seniors, and bolstering border security. The bill, which passed both chambers of Congress, now heads to President Trump for signature. “This bill is a win for Wisconsin workers, families, and seniors,” said Steil

Another Judge Steps Aside in Vanderzee Murder Case, Citing Past Contact with Defendant

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Yet another twist unfolded in the high-profile Vanderzee murder case when Judge Jason Rossell formally recused himself on June 24, citing prior contact with one of the defendants during his time as a prosecutor. According to the court record, Rossell stepped down from presiding over the case due to “prior contact with the defendant as an ADA.” Rossell served

Plus +

Third Arrest in Less Than a Month for Kenosha Man Accused of Repeatedly Violating Court Orders

Ryan M. Phillips, 40, of Kenosha in Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 40-year-old Kenosha man who already faced charges in two felony cases was arrested for a third time in just over three weeks—this time for allegedly violating a domestic abuse no-contact order and making illegal jailhouse calls to the victim. You must be logged in to

Plus +

Mother Accused of Threatening Officers, Neglecting Children at Pool While Allegedly Intoxicated

Lauren M. Leipzig, 37, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha woman is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly passing out at a public pool while responsible for three young children, including her own, and later threatening to have police officers killed. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

Kenosha Inmate Charged Again After Second Alleged Jail Assault

Kristina Faith Sargeant, 28, of Kenosha In Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha County Jail inmate already facing felony charges for a previous cell block assault has been charged again—this time for allegedly striking a different inmate in another altercation inside the jail. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Plus +

City Employee Who Stole Rebate Funds Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail

Jamie D. Watkins, 54, of Kenosha and Defense Attorney Terry Rose In Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A former City of Kenosha arborist who admitted to stealing rebate checks from the city’s Parks Department was sentenced to 45 days in jail Wednesday by Judge Gerad Dougvillo, who called the theft “a betrayal of public trust.” You must

Plus +

Teen Previously Convicted in School Shooting Case Faces New Felony Gun Charge

Jason Isom Jr., 18, of Kenosha(Kenosha Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha teenager who was previously adjudicated delinquent in connection with a 2022 shooting near Frank Elementary School is now facing five new criminal charges, including felony possession of a firearm, after police say he was caught with a loaded 9mm handgun and marijuana during a traffic stop on July 1. You must

Neglect Charge Filed After Disabled Uncle Found Malnourished and Soiled in Somers Home

SOMERS, Wis. – A Kenosha man has been charged with negligent abuse of an at-risk individual after deputies found his disabled uncle lying incoherent, half-naked, and surrounded by feces in their shared home. Robert Jeremy Warden, 37, appeared in court Tuesday and was charged with one count of negligently subjecting an at-risk individual to abuse—specifically, conditions not likely to cause bodily harm. The

Plus +

Kenosha Man Accused of Tasing and Slapping Teen at Graduation Party

Jeffery W. Grundman, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) WHEATLAND, Wis. — A 34-year-old Kenosha man appeared in court Wednesday on accusations that he tased and slapped a 17-year-old at a graduation party in the Town of Wheatland, allegedly using a stun gun while intoxicated and then threatening violence when confronted. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Categories
Archives
Authors

Wake Up to What You Missed

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.