County to pay $75,000 lawsuit settlement

WAUPACA – Peter Kraeger, current Chief of Police in the City of Waupaca and a former Waupaca County Sheriff deputy, reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit against Waupaca County and three former co-workers.
He served as a sheriff deputy from 2015 to his resignation in April of 2023. He left with the rank of detective.
The lawsuit was filed against the county and Waupaca County Sheriff Timothy Wilz, Chief Deputy Carl Artz and Captain Julie Thobaben.
The lawsuit was about arrest reports that were altered that could potentially change what happens in a criminal case as it goes to court. In 2002, Kraeger testified that there was retaliation by higher-ups after he exposed the altered reports.
In settlement negotiations in the Court of Appeals, Waupaca County settled to pay Kraeger $75,000 and he accepted the offer with involved parties not admitting any wrongdoing or liability.