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Sawyer County sheriff prepares for possible courthouse assemblages; jail population, taser training updated
Summary
Sheriff briefed the Public Safety Committee on preparations for planned assemblies near the courthouse, staffing and coordination with local and state partners, and updates on a taser training rollout and jail population figures.
Sheriff told the Sawyer County Public Safety Committee that county law enforcement has prepared for possible assemblies near the courthouse after comments by local judges drew public attention.
The sheriff said deputies have increased staffing and coordinated with municipal and state partners. “We brought extra staff in,” the sheriff said, and “we do have 4, added troopers in the community today as well.” He said outreach to protest organizers has been cooperative so far and that the judges “do not want any disruption” in courtrooms.
The sheriff’s update also covered operational items. He reported an increase in calls for service compared with the same period last year and said the department is finalizing deployment of the next-generation Axon 10 tasers, with in‑house instructor training planned for June. "Once our in house trainers are trained, they will then pass that training on towards staff for the jail and patrol," he said.
Why it matters: public assemblies near courthouses can affect court operations and require interagency planning. The sheriff framed his office’s priorities as safety and minimizing courtroom disruption.
The sheriff and committee discussed jail population and court staffing. The sheriff reported the jail’s average daily population for April was 59 and that the facility’s total population on the day of the report was 54. He broke down custody status as: about 18 in pre‑incarceration, 28 for probation/presentence, and 13 sentenced (as stated in the jail report). The committee noted judges had adjusted scheduling to help cover court proceedings while clerk of court positions are filled.
There were no formal policy motions attached to the sheriff’s update. Committee members asked whether staff levels were sufficient to manage any escalation; the sheriff said he would request additional mutual‑aid support if needed.
Ending: Committee members acknowledged the briefing and did not take immediate formal action beyond receiving the report. The committee approved the minutes of the April meeting earlier in the session (motion by Mr. Hellwig, second by Mr. Evans; motion carried).
