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At the February 14, 2023 Green County Board of Supervisors meeting, the following Green County Sheriff’s Office staff members were honored for actions taken to protect and serve their community during calendar year 2022:

Sergeants Zachary Degner and Scott Maresch, Deputies Scott Ellefson, Brett Hermanson, Derek Whitcomb and Payton Goninen, IT Manager Ryan Ellingson, Lead Dispatcher Katherine Vetterli and Dispatchers Jeanette Hasse and Samantha Hose for actions taken during a critical incident on STH 11 near Browntown on October 22, 2022. Deputies were called to the area to locate an armed offender that had reportedly committed an armed car-jacking in Dubuque, IA, fled from authorities to the Browntown area, crashed the vehicle and was reported to be at large on foot in the area. The area was secured and technology in the form of a drone and thermal imagery and K-9 Ali were utilized to locate and contain the suspect, who took his own life by use of a firearm. During the event, the 911 center staff was inundated with 911 calls, radio transmissions and requests for other first responders. All received Sheriff’s Commendations for performing significant acts in public service.

During the year, the Sheriff’s Office had a significant turnover in personnel, requiring hiring and training new deputies on patrol, jail and dispatchers. In addition to academies for new jail deputies and patrol deputies, field training consists of at least 16 weeks before the new deputy or dispatcher is released to work on their own. The Patrol Field Training Officer Division, consisting of Lieutenant Cody Kanable, Sergeant Bernie Roidt, Deputy Dani Jackson, Sergeant Aaron King, Deputy Brett Hermanson, Sergeant Scott Maresch and Deputy Derek Whitcomb, the Jail Training Officer Division, consisting of Lieutenant Curtis Quinn, Sergeant Nicole Grace, Sergeant Leslie Boyle, Deputy Jacob Schooff, Deputy Sara Conway, Deputy Cody Robertson and Deputy Melisa Richardson, as well as the Communications Training Officer Division, consisting of Lead Dispatcher Katherine Vetterli and Dispatcher Thomas Williams, were all awarded with Sheriff’s Unit Citations that is given to divisions that display significant acts or pronounced efforts in public service.

The Detective Division, staffed by Lieutenant John Schuetz, Detective Betsy Krantz, Detective Chris Fiez and Detective Curtis Erdmann, was awarded a Unit Citation for significant acts in public service for their investigations of multiple cases involving the Sexual Assault of a Child, Child Pornography and Exposing a Child to Harmful Material cases that led to criminal charges for the offenders and services and assistance for the victims.

The seats of the courtroom in the Green County Historic Courthouse were packed with family, friends and co-workers supporting those that were honored on Tuesday night, and, on behalf of the Green County Sheriff’s Office, we appreciate the partnership and support of the Green County Board of Supervisors and for hosting our annual award presentations.

Jeff Skatrud, Green County Sheriff