Support our Police Department

Monday, June 5, 2006: Council, after extreme pressure from the public, rescinded the May 15th decision to look at abolishment of our police department. In addition, news hits the airwaves that Perez wishes to "take another look" at the 23rd Street site for the new police station".

Okay, let's talk another look at the Sheridan Park Saga, where concerned citizen's and supporters of Sheridan Park wished to put safety above politics, while Perez choose to put politics above safety, which led us into the situation we face today.

As quoted in a 2005 Beacon Report titled, "Sheridan Park decision still stands", Perez stated, "I understand the political game -- I play it very well".

On Monday, May 15th, at the leadership of Perez, our Common Council voted to create a committee to look at what they refer to as, "Shared Services" between the city police and the county Sheriff's Department.

While this may sound harmless on the surface, there is much more to it. Please read Act 40 (a new window will open). This will help you gain a better understanding of why this is the first move in completely abolishing our police department.

Alternatively, you may download Act 40 in PDF format and save it to your computer. (A new window will open)

Response Perez is sending out to concerned citizen's:
"NO,NO, it is not the goal of the city to get rid of the police department. You are listening to gossip and blatant lies. Please consider your source. Thank you." The documents posted here along with others on this site, prove otherwise. From what the documentation on this site shows, this plan has been in progress for years -- the abolishment of our police and a "metro" police to be put in its place. It's all in black and white.

Mr. Ernest Keppler of the SCTA, presented their "Cost Saving Ideas" (new window with printable page will open) for the City of Sheboygan. Please note number 17 as it states, in no uncertain terms, the intent is clearly to abolish our Police Department. If you doubt the connection to the Mayor and SCTA, Read the e-mail where it states he will be a "guest" speaker.

RESOLUTION PASSED: After reviewing Act 40, please read the resolution passed by the common council on May 15th, 2006. This is a printable copy and will open in a new window.

A MUST SEE! Letter from Sheboygan Professional Police Association. If you are confused as to why there is talk of abolishing the department, this letter will answer all your questions. Please take the time to read it! There is a link to a printable version at the bottom of the page for your convenience. When you've read this letter, please read the following two open letters from police officer's:

Read an open letter from an officer planning to leave the force.
Read another open letter from an officer who speaks of the decline in moral of our police officers after the May 15th, 2006 common council meeting.

Following is a brief run-down of what has taken place thus far:

The Sheboygan City Council has formed a committee to study the possibility of eliminating the Sheboygan Police Dept. under Wisconsin Act 40. Act 40 authorizes "a city or a village to abolish its police department and contract for law enforcement services with a county."

Act 40 is not about merging two departments and it is not about shared services.

The Citizen’s Budget Survey was cited as the reason to conduct this study. The question on the survey read, "City should share services and costs by merging the police and sheriff's departments". It is not a merger that is being explored, but an abolition of the police department.

Following the May 15, 2006, council meeting, the members of the Sheboygan Police Dept. were informed that if this proposal goes through, all SPD officers will be fired. They could apply for entry level jobs at the Sheriff's Dept., but will lose all seniority and start at entry level pay. Also, there is no guarantee that city officers will be hired by the sheriff’s dept.

Turning control over to the Sheriff’s Dept. will not result in an opportunity to reduce the number of hired officers. If any tax savings result from this proposal, the savings will come at the expense of public safety and the City of Sheboygan will lose all local control over its law enforcement services.

Sheboygan’s crime rate has skyrocketed. We have been overrun with drug dealers, drug houses and meth labs. There are violent crime and drug arrests nearly every day. The majority of these crimes are handled by the Sheboygan Police Dept. Sheboygan cannot afford a major disruption in police services at this crucial time.

Officials at City Hall already have plans underway to dismantle the police department and they may have the votes to do it. If city officers are fired, most will not want to remain in our community as members of the Sheriff’s Department. If our police officers leave, they will take with them their knowledge of our streets, neighborhoods and the criminals who live here. These officers will be hired by other departments because of the stellar reputation of the Sheboygan Police Department and it will be other cities who benefit from their training and experience. Sheboygan will be left with inexperienced officers to patrol our streets.

Contact Mayor Perez and the council members. Tell them to stop risking our safety and to stop this dangerous plan. Visit the City of Sheboygan website at www.ci.sheboygan.wi.us.

Contact County Administrator Adam Payne and the county supervisors. Tell them to reject this proposal. Visit the Sheboygan County website at www.co.sheboygan.wi.us.

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