Assisting the Community in Education, Support & Safety

Each one of these programs is handled by deputy sheriffs who are specially trained in these areas. These presentations are in addition to their normal work day obligations and job duties. This is a way to keep our community aware of not only the many ways the Washington County Sheriff's Office keeps our community safe, but how the residents can keep their family safe.

If any of these programs could be of service to you, an organization, a business or a school, please contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 262-335-4378 to arrange a presentation.  

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office assists in community education through several agency programs:

The sheriff’s office will work with you to try and solve problems of crime in your community. With the cooperation of its citizens, the sheriff’s office and local police agencies are able to maintain Washington County’s reputation as a low crime and safe place to live. But crime does occur in our county and you can help prevent crime by taking steps to safeguard yourself, your family and your property.

Each year the sheriff’s office conducts presentations in a diverse range of topics which include:

• Crime prevention
• Drug awareness
• Child safety education
• Personal and home security
• Elder abuse
• Fraud awareness

Over 40 organizations and hundreds of citizens in our community are served by these presentations, including local schools, clubs, youth groups, private businesses and service organizations.

Neighborhood Watch

The Neighborhood Watch program is one of the oldest crime prevention programs in the country, bringing law enforcement together with citizens to help deter crime and make communities safer. Citizens band together to watch out for criminal or suspicious activity in their neighborhood and report such occurrences to the police immediately. The sheriff’s office can help you organize such a group. If you would like to learn more about Neighborhood Watch, follow this link to the National Sheriff's Association website: Neighborhood Watch

Child Fingerprinting

The sheriff’s office conducts child fingerprinting at various events throughout the county. Parents are provided with a personalized ID card bearing the photo, fingerprint and description of their child.

For information on local crime prevention programs or presentations available through the sheriff’s office, please contact us at: 262-335-4378

To help foster a positive relationship with the community and to help citizens better understand what our deputies do on a daily basis, the sheriff’s office has a ride along program that puts citizens in a squad car out on patrol. Citizens can get a first-hand look at the challenges deputies face each day and hopefully come away with a better understanding of the services we provide.

Ride along participants only act as observers. They do not perform any law enforcement work that the deputy would normally do. They do not wear a uniform or badge, operate a squad car, handle department equipment or weapons or complete any official paperwork.

If you would like to ride along with a deputy, you must submit a written request using the form provided by our office. The form is available at the front counter at the sheriff’s office or you may request a form by mail.  Please be aware of these additional requirements:

• Participants must be at least 18 years of age
• Participants must be approved by the sheriff
• Ride along is normally only valid for one 8 hour shift (you may select the shift)
• Any one participant will be limited to three ride alongs per year
• No camera or recording equipment is allowed
• Participants must be appropriately dressed

Once a ride along has been approved and scheduled, you will be assigned to a shift to accompany a deputy on patrol. You may request a ride along on any shift, but understand that it is contingent on a deputy being available to take you out. Because of workload or scheduling demands for the deputies, a requested day or shift may not work out for a ride along.

For your safety and protection, the hosting deputy may end a ride along shift if at any time the deputy determines that the ride along is no longer appropriate for the circumstances. If a dangerous circumstance should arise, you may be dropped off at a safe location and picked up later after the situation has been deemed safe again.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

Traffic safety remains a high priority for the sheriff’s office. Through high visibility patrol and the enforcement of traffic laws, patrol deputies strive to reduce accidents, injuries and motor vehicle related deaths on our county highways.

For statistical information on the number of citations/violations, please reference our Annual Report which can be found on the sheriff's office website homepage.  

SPEED & OWI GRANTS

The Sheriff’s Office continues to participate in grant programs through the Wisconsin Bureau of Transportation Safety for enhanced speed and/or drunk driving enforcement. These grants are used to put additional patrol Deputies on the road to enforce speeding and drunk driving laws. In a collaborative effort, a portion of these funds have been shared with the local police departments in West Bend, Jackson, Germantown and Hartford.

CITIZEN TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS

The sheriff’s office wants to be responsive to traffic-related problems which are reported by concerned citizens. If you have a specific traffic-related concern, you may contact the sheriff’s office at 262-335-4378. Ask to speak to a shift supervisor. The supervisor will discuss the problem with you and explain what options may be available, such as additional patrol in a specific area, setting up a radar trailer or even a referral to the Highway Safety Committee.

Special assignments such as these are conducted as time permits. Please be aware that the sheriff’s office receives several hundred special traffic enforcement requests from citizens each year. We do our best to give each request an appropriate amount of attention.

The Washington County Drug Treatment Court (WCDTC) was created in recognition that many individuals find themselves in the criminal justice system because of a substance use disorder. It is an alternative to traditional incarceration and probation that seeks to help participants overcome their addictions and lead healthy, law-abiding and productive lives, rather than simply punish them. The WCDTC is a program that employs a holistic and evidence-based approach to treatment and supervision.

More Information on Drug Treatment Court