Dodge County Sheriff Reviewing His Policies

(Juneau) Two years into his term, Dodge County’s top law enforcement officer is reviewing some of his policies.  In his monthly column, Sheriff Dale Schmidt says he created a list of performance objectives for his first 24 months.  Schmidt says one of the top priorities was creating a backup satellite dispatch center in case to ensure the county could still provide dispatch services if something happened to the equipment in Juneau.  That center was created with non-tax levy funds in the Beaver Dam Fire Department.  In 2016, Schmidt says the child abduction response team created the year prior was able to serve its most important purpose to date by aiding in the rescue of three teenagers from Iron Ridge’s Neda Mine last summer.  Schmidt also says a drone that was purchased for $1,000 last year has been used in a number of search and rescue and crash reconstruction cases.  The sheriff has some new goals in mind for the near future.  Schmidt says he is working with the various Dodge County superintendents to create a ‘rapid response’ program to allow for more effective communication between districts and emergency responders, should there be a crisis situation.  He believes the plan could maximize resources available for responders while cutting costs for schools by replacing the mass communication programs many of them currently use.