Kenosha County board approves ordinance allowing sheriff’s office to hire at 19 after hours-long debate

The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors voted 17-5 to approve Ordinance 28, amending the county municipal code (Chapter 4) to allow the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department to hire applicants who are 19 years old, the board announced after roll call and debate.

The measure drew extended debate on the board floor, two failed amendments and several public speakers who urged rejection. Supporters said the change gives the sheriff’s office flexibility to recruit younger candidates who complete specified training and college-credit requirements; opponents cited brain-development research and mental-health risks for younger officers.

Robin Cullen, a licensed clinical counselor who spoke during citizens’ comments, urged the board to reject the change. “I respectfully urge you to vote no on the proposal to lower the hiring age for deputies in the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department to 19,” Cullen said, adding that “the frontal lobe of the brain, which is not fully developed until around age 25,” influences judgment and emotional regulation.

Erin Anzac, another resident, framed the issue as part of the public’s social contract with government and law enforcement. “We grant a monopoly on violence to the government,” Anzac said, arguing that those powers require fully prepared and qualified officers.

On the board, Supervisor Kirby proposed an amendment to retain older minimums (returning to language that required applicants to be at least 20 and not less than 21 at hire) while carving out exceptions for applicants who completed a County Sheriff Explorer program or who have military service. Supervisor Gama seconded Kirby’s amendment. The amendment failed on a roll call, 5 yes and 17 no.

Supervisor Nudo later offered a separate amendment to lower the minimum age to 18 (keeping the ordinance’s other education and credit requirements); that motion was seconded but also failed in a roll call (vote recorded as failing with 13 no and 9 yes in the board record). After further debate and a successful motion to end debate, the board returned to the original ordinance as presented and approved it, 17 yes and 5 no.

Sheriff’s Office officials and human-resources representatives told the board they expect multiple screening steps to remain in place if the ordinance passes. Chief Deputy Miller said the agency uses a multi-step hiring process that includes a civil-service review, interviews, psychological job-traits analysis, medical and physical evaluations and third-party screening. “We have checks and balances to our system,” Miller said, noting the civil service board’s civilian oversight of interviews and the use of psychological screening.

Miller and other sheriff’s office supporters described the change as a way to avoid losing promising candidates to other agencies with lower minimum ages, and to capture applicants who had completed explorer or cadet programs and accrued college credits at Gateway Technical College. Board members and staff discussed college-credit thresholds during debate: Chief Deputy Miller said the department’s plan reduces a prior 60-credit benchmark toward a 40-credit requirement in part because academy training at Gateway can provide roughly 23 college credits toward the requirement.

Opponents on the board and several speakers in public comment emphasized concerns about neurological development and the potential for trauma among younger officers. Supervisor Franco, who moved the ordinance onto the floor, acknowledged the difficulty of pinning hiring policy solely to age but noted the county’s rigorous screening steps. “If they pass the psychological tests and it’s deemed that they are mature enough to handle a weapon and be a police officer, then we should rely upon the experts,” Franco said.

Action summary: Ordinance 28 (amend Kenosha County municipal code, Chapter 4 — Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department) was moved by Supervisor Franco and seconded by Supervisor Brookhouse; the Kirby amendment (revert to older age with exceptions for explorers/military) was moved by Supervisor Kirby, seconded by Supervisor Gama and failed 5-17; the Nudo amendment (lower to 18) was moved by Supervisor Nudo, seconded by Supervisor Meadows and failed (board record shows 13 no, 9 yes); the original ordinance passed 17-5 and was adopted.

The discussion on the ordinance drew a large number of board speakers, extended questioning of the sheriff’s office and human resources, and multiple public comments urging both rejection and support. The ordinance passed following standard roll-call procedure and will take effect under the county’s rules for ordinance implementation.