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Cops coping with covid

Jail bookings, 911 calls, traffic stops adjusted

By Robert Cloud


For a police officer, face-to-face encounters occur daily.

While many employees are staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, officers are like health care professionals and grocery store clerks.

They are considered essential under Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order.

Waupaca County Sheriff Tim Wilz and Waupaca Police Chief Brian Hoelzel both said they are not enforcing the stay-at-home order.

There are no road blocks. Police are not pulling over vehicles and issuing citations to people who are not staying at home.

“We put out an order to our officers,” Wilz said. “We don’t want to upset the public any more than they already are.”

Wilz said officers try to avoid making unnecessary contacts.

For instance, an Ogdensburg bar failed to follow the state public health order and close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.

After a 911 caller reported the bar was still open at 6:29 p.m., a deputy called the owner and reminded him that he needed to close.

At 8 p.m., a second 911 call reported the bar had not closed.

The deputy called again, then drove by the tavern and noted there were cars were in the parking lot and people inside.

“We made three calls to them and had several officers drive by,” Wilz said.

Although no deputies entered the bar, their efforts resulted in a misdemeanor criminal complaint.

Wilz said he knows of no other bar that has violated the order.

Protecting the community

“We’ve heard a few grumblings from people, but there’s nothing ever substantial to it,” Wilz said.

Hoelzel said city of Waupaca police are not making traffic stops to enforce the order.

“We cannot stop people for just driving their vehicles,” Hoelzel said. “We’re not stopping people just to see where they are going.”

Hoelzel said officers are still stopping drivers for traffic violations.

City officers are currently checking on local businesses, but not to enforce possible violations of the emergency health order.

“There are a lot of businesses that are closed now,” Hoelzel said. “We’re checking those businesses to make sure nobody has broken into them.”

Hoelzel noted most residents seem to be staying home with their children who are learning while not attending school.

“We’re asking people to comply with the order to protect themselves and, in protecting themselves, they’re protecting the community,” Hoelzel said.

911 calls, jail intake

Wilz described two major procedural changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When taking a 911 call, Waupaca County communications officers ask a series of questions.

They ask if the caller has been ill, in contact with someone who was ill or out of the country.

Dispatch provides that information to the responding officer.

“We’re kind of a gatekeeper for the area police departments,” Wilz said.

The county jail also began screening the corrections officers, as well as incoming inmates.

“Their temperatures are taken,” Wilz said.

Waupaca County jail is no longer accepting new safekeeper inmates from Wood and Portage counties.

“We’re trying to eliminate warrant pickups,” Wilz said. “The judges are quashing municipal and misdemeanor (warrants) and setting a court date.”

Wilz said officers book defendants who will be released immediately on signature bonds in the sally port rather than bringing them into the facility.

Those arrested for drunken driving are released directly from the hospital to a responsible party.

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