Kewaskum's village board says it has filed disciplinary charges against the police department's chief and a lieutenant, after they say standards in the hiring process of an officer were not met.
The board filed the disciplinary charges against police Chief Thomas Bishop and Lt. Bryan Frank.
Village board members say the charges were filed with the Kewaskum Police and Fire Commission, which is the group responsible for pursuing disciplinary action in law enforcement. The charges were filed after an independent investigation was conducted with the guidance of the village's labor and employment counsel.
Earlier this year, board members say they were informed of allegations from the early 2000s involving the officer during his employment with a prior law enforcement agency in Juneau County. They say those allegations resulted in disciplinary findings that were upheld on appeal in Juneau County Circuit Court. Board members say ultimately, the allegations led to his termination from the Juneau County law enforcement agency.
According to the village board, the officer's application to the Kewaskum Police Department did not disclose the reason for the conclusion of his prior employment. Village board members say the independent investigation examined whether appropriate due diligence was conducted prior to the officer’s hiring, and whether department leadership fulfilled its responsibilities under established hiring and vetting procedures.
Village board members say the findings support the board’s determination that the hiring process did not meet the standards expected and was not in the best interest of the department or the community. They say the Police and Fire Commission will now conduct its own proceeding in accordance with Wisconsin law.
Board members say the officer remains on paid administrative leave while the next steps in the process are determined.
The Kewaskum Police Association released the following statement in response to the disciplinary charges:
"On behalf of the Kewaskum Police Association (KPA), we write to express our full support for Chief Tom Bishop and Lieutenant Bryan Frank in response to the recently filed disciplinary charges and related public statements.
Both Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to professional, ethical, and dedicated service to the Village of Kewaskum. They have served this community with integrity and have earned the respect of their colleagues and the citizens they protect.
We are deeply concerned by the manner in which these matters have been presented publicly. The release of selective or disputed information—particularly before a full and fair review of the facts—risks undermining confidence in the process and unfairly damaging the reputations of the individuals involved.
The KPA firmly believes that all officers are entitled to due process and a fair, unbiased evaluation of any allegations. These principles are foundational not only to our profession, but to the justice system we are sworn to uphold.
We urge the community to allow the appropriate procedures to run their course and to reserve judgment until all facts have been thoroughly reviewed. We are confident that a complete and objective examination will demonstrate the professionalism and integrity with which Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank have carried out their duties.
The members of the Kewaskum Police Association stand united in support of both Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank during this process."
Sergeant Jeremy Haske also released a statement responding to the disciplinary charges:
"I am writing to address a statement included in the Village of Kewaskum’s recent press release regarding the disciplinary charges involving members of the Kewaskum Police Department.
Specifically, the Village asserted that my “application to the Kewaskum Police Department did not disclose the reason for the conclusion of [my] prior employment.” That statement is simply not true.
At the time of my application, I fully and accurately disclosed the circumstances surrounding my prior employment in accordance with the requirements of the hiring process. I cooperated with the background investigation and provided all information requested of me. Any suggestion that I was not forthcoming is incorrect and misrepresents the facts.
Given the seriousness of the allegations currently being discussed publicly, it is important that the information provided to the community is accurate. Statements like this not only affect my professional reputation, but also undermine public confidence in a fair and transparent process.
I remain committed to fully addressing these matters through the appropriate legal and administrative channels, and I am confident that a complete and objective review of the record will demonstrate that I acted honestly throughout the hiring process."
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