Upholding Public Safety

As a lifelong resident of Waukesha County, there is nothing more important to me than the people who live here.  Keeping my community safe has been, and always will be, my priority. The key to public safety is holding those engaged in criminal activity accountable for their behavior.   Without consequences, there is no deterrence and no incentive for criminals to change.  Holding criminals accountable for minor criminal activity has proven to deter criminals from engaging in more serious criminal activity.  Unfortunately, we have a large county to our east that does not embrace this philosophy.  With minimal to no consequences for people who engage in criminal activity in Milwaukee County, Milwaukee County is becoming an unsafe place to live and to work. Unfortunately, with the lack of consequences in Milwaukee, criminals have become emboldened and are now coming into Waukesha County expecting the same lack of accountability.  In 2022, approximately 50% of the defendants charged in Waukesha County had a Milwaukee address.  Waukesha County must set an example that this conduct will not be tolerated and send a strong message to all that if you commit crimes in Waukesha County, you will be held accountable.

Supporting Law Enforcement

Our philosophy to hold people accountable in Waukesha County has not gone unnoticed. Officers outside of Waukesha County tell horror stories of serious, even violent crime that is investigated, sent to the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office only to have the prosecution declined.  This is unacceptable.  Oftentimes, law enforcement in Milwaukee County will send referrals to our office if any part of the criminal activity has a nexus to Waukesha County.  They know the defendant will at the very least be charged with something.  Please don’t misunderstand—Milwaukee County has committed law enforcement officers, however many are tired and frustrated with the lack of accountability.

I have taught and trained law enforcement officers in southeastern Wisconsin for the past 26 years.  My goal in training law enforcement has always been to help them perform their job to the best of their ability.  I  believe these efforts have led to greater insight into constitutional issues that arise during the criminal justice process and a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system. 

We are blessed in Waukesha County to have a dedicated law enforcement community. These men and women show up day in and day out, not because they expect a thank you, but because they are committed to keeping us safe. It is refreshing, after watching numerous media outlets bash law enforcement, to see our community appreciate the great work law enforcement officers do in Waukesha County.  This is why I Back the Badge and I remain committed to maintaining quality law enforcement officers.  This is an investment that will pay off exponentially.  It is important to remember the District Attorney’s Office can only prosecute people who are caught.

Supporting Crime Victims

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the rights of victims.  Fortunately, we live in a State that prioritizes victim’s rights.  This was clear in the passage of Marsy’s law which amended the Wisconsin constitution to give victims greater rights in the criminal justice system.  Although we deal with the criminal justice system daily, victims do not.  Walking victims through the process and listening to their wishes and needs is crucial.  Victims deserve to have at a very minimum the same rights as the criminals who victimize them.  Our District Attorney’s office has a division with dedicated victim advocates on staff to assist in giving victims a voice in the prosecution of those who have victimized them.