Countryside Donates Vehicle To New Sheriff’s Office Program

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam automobile dealership has donated a vehicle to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for their new Community Service Officers program. Countryside Auto Group has given the department a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.  The new program allows the sheriff’s office to hire young men and women on a part-time basis whose goal is to become a full-time patrol deputy in the future.  They are given responsibilities that in the past have normally been done by full-time patrol deputies but could be done by civilian staff instead.  That includes traffic control and direction, handling of minor complaints such as animal bite complaints, parking violations, abandoned vehicles and property, among others. Authorities say the program allows deputies to focus more on tasks such as investigation of criminal matters, traffic enforcement and crash reduction and other matters that can only be addressed by someone with their training and qualifications.

The Community Service Officers will also be tasked with working with community members on identifying solutions to community problems and concerns. That may include facilitating community watch programs or working with neighborhoods to facilitate crime prevention initiatives. The first Community Service Officers selected are also currently members in the Dodge County Law Enforcement Explorer Post and have taken the next step into their current roles.  They are Easton Meier and Scott Anderson, both of Beaver Dam. Sheriff Dale Schmidt thanked Countryside Auto Group for making the venture possible with their donation and he says the dealership continues to be an excellent partner.

 

Pictured from Left to Right:  Scott Anderson, Easton Meier, Keith Ghanian (President of Countryside Auto Group), Sheriff Dale Schmidt