Press Releases

NOTICE:

In compliance with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Senne v. Village of Palatine, 695F3d597 (7th Circuit, 2012), and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (“DPPA”), 18 U.S.C. §2721 et.seq., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office is no longer releasing personal information under the DPPA unless it falls under a permissible use. Personal information obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles, including an individual’s date of birth, drivers license number, social security number, home address, telephone number, photograph and medical or disability information is prohibited from disclosure unless one of the permissible uses applies. Permissible uses are listed in 18 U.S.C. 2721 (b).

Press releases archive after 60 days and are removed from site after 120 days:
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House Fire
10/14/2025
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:54 PM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a house fire, at 2036 CTH K in the Town of Erin, Washington County. Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies, WI State Patrol, and the Hartford Fire Department responded to the scene.
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Critical Injury Incident Involving Inmate
10/07/2025
West Bend, WI – Authorities are investigating a serious incident that occurred at the Washington County Jail on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, when an inmate sustained critical injuries after deliberately jumping from a top-tier railing of an adult pod. The 28-year-old male inmate, from Minnesota, is being held on a $50,000 cash bond on charges related to a domestic incident that occurred on September 27, 2025. The pending charges include felony charges of 1st Degree Reckless Injury and Aggravated Battery.
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Barn Fire in the Town of Hartford
10/03/2025
On 10/03/2025 at 1:21pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center took multiple 911 calls reporting black smoke coming from a barn on Clover Road in the Town of Hartford. Deputies, Hartford Fire and St Lawrence Fire were subsequently dispatched to the scene. While they were still enroute, contact was made with the property owners who stated that the barn was unoccupied and did not contain any animals.
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Community Notification #2
10/01/2025
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense.
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Community Notification
10/01/2025
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense.
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Fatal Crash
09/28/2025
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 8:38 PM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center was notified of a motorcycle versus passenger vehicle crash on Hy 175 at Hillside Rd in the Town of Polk. Initial information from multiple callers on scene indicated that the operator of the motorcycle was unresponsive and that bystanders were attempting life-saving measures.
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Fatal Vehicle Crash 25-35393
09/27/2025
On September 27, 2025, at 11:16 a.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a semi vs vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 175 and County Road S, in the Town of Addison.
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Weather Related Death
09/25/2025
On 9/22/25 at around 7:00 pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kewaskum Fire Department, was requested to assist in a search that was already underway by DNR and Fond du Lac County authorities for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry employee who was working in the New Fane Trail area that day and had not returned home. The missing forester’s vehicle had been found in Fond du Lac County, and the search track was moving towards the Washington County/Fond du Lac County line. The victim was located deceased in a wooded area at around 7:40 pm in the Town of Kewaskum.
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Structure Fire
09/12/2025
On Friday, September 12th, 2025, at 2:16 AM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a structure fire at a campsite in the 7500 block of Good Luck Lane in the Town of Barton. The fire was reported by a neighbor in the area who observed a nearby trailer that was fully engulfed in flames.
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Community Notification
09/08/2025
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense.
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Barn Fire
09/05/2025
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 9:54 PM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a barn fire in the 6200 block of Cty Tk K in the Town of Hartford. The fire was reported by the property owner’s daughter. Prior to the arrival of responding deputies and fire personnel, the family was able to evacuate the animals from the barn.
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Garage Fire
09/04/2025
Today at approximately 11:06am the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a possible garage fire at Scenic Traveler RV Center located at 3155 Scenic Rd in the Town of Polk. The caller reported smoke and flames were coming out of the structure which was a detached garage not near the main building. The Slinger Fire Department was paged, and the call was upgraded to a MABAS call. Fire Departments from Jackson, Hartford St. Lawrence and Richfield were paged to assist along with Lifestar Rescue
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Community Notification
09/02/2025
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense.
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Structure Fire in the Town of Erin
09/01/2025
On 09/01/2025 at 5:18pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center took a report of a structure fire on Cty Tk Q west of Cty Tk K. A neighbor reported that the adjacent property's detached garage was on fire. Deputies and the Hartford Fire Department were subsequently dispatched to the scene.
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Community Notification
08/21/2025
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense.
Read More about Community Notification
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