WEST BEND, Wis. — The Washington County Board of Supervisors last night unanimously approved Anti-Crime Plan C, a comprehensive public safety initiative that invests in law enforcement, courtroom security, emergency communications, and narcotics prosecution to keep Washington County one of the safest places to live, work, and raise a family.

The plan builds on the County’s long-standing commitment to public safety by providing additional resources where they are needed most while utilizing responsible financial management and dedicated funding sources. Anti-Crime Plan C advances the County’s strategic priority of maintaining a Safe and Secure Community.

“Public safety isn’t something you fund once. It’s a commitment you make to continually work towards keeping our communities safe,” said County Board Chair Jeff Schleif. “Anti-Crime Plan C ensures we’re giving our Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, and emergency communications professionals the tools they need to stay ahead of crime and protect our families.”

“Washington County has consistently made public safety our number one priority,” County Executive Josh Schoemann said. “This plan continues that commitment by making smart investments that help prevent crime, support our law enforcement professionals, and keep our communities safe today and into the future.”

The plan includes:

  • A dedicated narcotics prosecutor to aggressively target large-scale drug trafficking organizations and violent drug distributors, funded through opioid settlement dollars.
  • Courthouse security staffing using new court fee revenue authorized under Wisconsin Act 179.
  • A second-shift Patrol Sergeant to strengthen supervision during the busiest patrol hours.
  • Dispatch compensation improvements to improve recruitment and retention of highly trained 911 dispatch professionals.
  • An additional $200,000 for the County Radio Grant Program, ensuring first responders across Washington County continue to receive reliable communications equipment.
  • A compensation adjustment for Sheriff’s Office staff, recognizing their critical role in evidence management, body camera administration, and daily law enforcement operations and ensuring quality recruitment and retention.

Washington County officials noted that the plan reflects careful financial stewardship. Funding comes from dedicated opioid settlement funds, increased court fee revenue authorized by the state, surplus funds from the County’s successful radio project, and other existing resources, minimizing impacts on the County’s General Fund while strengthening critical public safety services.

District Attorney Barry Braatz has increased charging and prosecution activity since taking office, and the addition of a specialized narcotics prosecutor will allow his office to focus even more aggressively on dismantling narcotics trafficking networks and holding offenders accountable. According to the County’s proposal, the new prosecutor will coordinate with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute complex drug trafficking organizations.

The patrol supervision investment also addresses changing demands within the Sheriff’s Office. Today, half of all calls for service occur during the second shift, making it the busiest patrol period in the county and requiring additional supervisory support for deputies responding to complex incidents.