News 6/21/2010

Bedker Resigns Over Furloughs

6/21/10 – Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bedker announced his resignation on Friday. Bedker was sworn-in Friday the 13th of June 2008 and will be leaving office Friday the 13th of August 2010. In that short amount of time, Bedker – who points out he was born on Friday the 13th – says he’s lucky to have dished out justice for the victims of child sex offenses and dangerous drunk drivers given the effect that state budget cuts have had on district attorney offices across the state. He says stepping down and focusing on academics is “personally more constructive and healthy than constantly fuming about a systemic problem that’s completely beyond [his] individual control to fix.” Bedker has been criticized by some for a policy change in the DA’s office that halted prosecution of first-time, stand-alone, small-quantity adult drug offenses but he says that played no role in his decision. As far as advice, Bedker says the next D-A should set their priorities early and follow-through. He says if your “core priorities are dealing with the most violent and vile of criminals – the rapists and murders – then you have to evaluate the additional resources you have available for the person driving without a valid license or caught with a joint.” Bedker will become a legal studies professor with Madison College. Gov. Jim Doyle will have to appoint a successor to fill the term which runs through 2012. We’ll air our interview with Bedker during our final segment of Community Comment this afternoon.

BDFD Recognized by Flight For Life

6/21/10 – Flight For Life will honor the Beaver Dam Fire Department with the “2009 Scene Call of the Year Award.” Jayce Commo says the Fond du Lac Base selected Beaver Dam for its response to an incident on December 3. There were multiple patients who had been ejected from a motor vehicle versus tractor accident and two medical choppers were called to the scene. Commo also noted that three Beaver Dam paramedics returning from an EMS class in Madison happened to be nearby and assisted at the scene. The award will be presented at tonight’s Beaver Dam Common Council meeting, which begins at 8pm in City Hall. In addition, the public is invited to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital, where a Flight For Life helicopter will be landing at 8:30pm, weather permitting.