FAQs • Portage County, WI • CivicEngage

What makes the Sheriff’s Office different from our police department?: The obvious answers are that we are a county-wide law enforcement agency with jurisdiction throughout, even in places that have their own police departments. The Sheriff is a constitutionally established position with ultimate authority over the operations of this Office, answerable only to you the voters. We operate the County’s Jail, and in Portage County we operate the Juvenile Detention Facility and county-wide Communications Center. We also have additional duties tied to the office, such as the service of civil and criminal processes and the protection of the courts. Otherwise, we are essentially the same in our function and mission.

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Sheriff's Office

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1. Can I intern at the Sheriff’s Office?: Perhaps. We have partnered with several institutions of higher learning to provide intern opportunities for their students.

2. Can I surrender an unwanted firearm?: Yes. Visit the Surrendering Firearms page.

3. Could all of the law enforcement in the county be consolidated into one county-wide police department?: No. While municipalities are free to provide their own police department or contract for police services from another municipality or the county, the Sheriff is a constitutionally mandated office. However, all of the law enforcement services across the county could be consolidated under the sheriff's office. Portage County only has two municipalities that provide their own police services, the City of Stevens Point and the Village of Plover. The remaining 96+% of the County is already under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sheriff's office.

4. Do county ordinances apply within my municipality?: Yes, with only a very few exceptions. All county ordinances are enforceable county-wide, except where the statute provides for local ordinances to preclude county ordinance enforcement (e.g. fireworks, solicitors permits). Otherwise, even if a city, village, or town has its own ordinances, the county ordinances still apply.

5. Does the Sheriff’s Office have a ride-along program?: Yes and No. The Sheriff’s Office does not accept walk-in requests to ride along due to staffing restrictions. We do allow individual deputies to request particular persons to ride with them for a specific shift, but these need to be initiated by that officer. We do allow certain public officials, program participants, and interns to ride along under limited circumstances.

6. Does the Sheriff's Office enforce municipal ordinances?: No. The Sheriff's Office enforces county ordinances and state law. That is unless the municipality has contracted with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement.

7. How do I apply for a position at the Sheriff’s Office?

If you are interested in a position as a deputy sheriff, you need to register with and test through Empco. We have partnered with the Badger State Sheriff's Association for creating a state-wide multi-agency testing and candidate pool, which allows you to apply for as many or as few sheriff's offices in Wisconsin as you wish. For more information visit the EMPCO Website, or by clicking on the Employment tab on our Facebook page.

All other positions are advertised on the Portage County Human Resources website.

8. How do I contact the Sheriff’s Office?: You may call us at 715-346-1400, 24 hours a day. You may also stop in and see us at 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point, 24 hours a day to report a crime, and during business hours for other requests for service. You may Email Sheriff.

9. How do I find out about property being sold at a Sheriff’s Sale?: Visit our website for Portage County.

10. How do I make a personnel complaint about an office member's conduct or improper job performance?

To ensure that the public has confidence in the Sheriff's Office and our employees, we have a process in place for adequate, fair, impartial, and expedient processing of all allegations of misconduct by Sheriff's Office employees. However, the complainant should be aware that by Wisconsin law (Wi Statute 946.66(2)), a false complaint or any untrue allegations may subject the complainant to criminal charges and/or civil recourse. In the event someone wishes to make a complaint, the first step is to contact the Sheriff's Office and request to speak with the employee's supervisor. If the name and/or position of the employee is unknown, request to speak with the on-duty Shift Commander. Contact may be made by phone, in writing, in person, or by email and can be made at:

Portage County Sheriff's Office
1500 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Phone:715-346-1400
Email

11. How do I pay my fine or citation?: You can find the latest information here (except for parking tickets): on Portage County Website.

12. How do I pay my parking ticket?

Parking Tickets can be paid by using the ticket/envelope to mail your check/money order payment to the Sheriff's Office at 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481-3542. Otherwise, you can come directly to the Sheriff's Office to pay in cash or check during business hours. You can find out more information on the Parking Tickets page.

Visit the Information on parking tickets issued by the Stevens Point Police Department can be found Stevens Point Website

13. How do I visit an inmate in the Jail?: You can visit an inmate either by using a remote video system, or coming to the Jail and using the system here. Learn more by visiting the Inmate Visitation page.

14. I have a question about someone in Jail. Whom can I call?: Call 715-346-1259 and follow the prompts.

15. Some call it the “Sheriff’s Department,” others call it the “Sheriff’s Office.” Which is correct?: The Sheriff is elected to the Office of the Sheriff, therefore we are the “Sheriff’s Office.” Agencies run by elected officials are offices, such as the District Attorney’s Office, Clerk of Courts Office, and County Executive’s Office. Departments, on the other hand, are run by appointed department heads, answerable to the County Executive and County Board rather than directly to the electorate, and are constructs of the County, such as the Finance Department, Highway Department, and Emergency Management Department. The use of the term Sheriff’s Department is incorrect.

16. Someone I know was arrested last night or over the weekend. When will he/she have an appearance?: Appearances on new charges are held at different times throughout the day/week. Please contact either the District Attorney's Office or the Clerk of Courts Office anytime after 10:30 am. These appearances are normally held during the late morning hours or in the early afternoon. If a call is made too early, the information will not be available. The defendant may or may not appear in person in the courtroom for the appearance. Many times they will appear by video appearance at the Jail.

17. What are the regular office hours for the Sheriff’s Office?: The administrative offices and Records Division front counter is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Patrol, Jail, and Communications Center are open 24/7. They can be contacted by telephone, or by using the appropriate intercom in the lobby of the Law Enforcement Center.

18. What classes are currently being taught by the Sheriff’s Office?: You can find a current list either under the Events tab on our Facebook page.

19. What if I see a dead deer on the highway?: To report a dead deer, please call the Highway Department Parts Room at 715-345-5233. Portage County does not pick up dead deer. We notify Wisconsin DNR, which contracts with private contractors to remove dead deer from state and county highways. Carcasses painted with a bright orange "X" have already been called in for removal.

20. What is the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Office?: The Sheriff's Office exercises jurisdiction throughout the County, including within municipal boundaries and in places that have their own police departments. The Sheriff and his deputies also exercise their authority state-wide under certain circumstances, even when outside of their home county.

21. What makes the Sheriff’s Office different from our police department?: The obvious answers are that we are a county-wide law enforcement agency with jurisdiction throughout, even in places that have their own police departments. The Sheriff is a constitutionally established position with ultimate authority over the operations of this Office, answerable only to you the voters. We operate the County’s Jail, and in Portage County we operate the Juvenile Detention Facility and county-wide Communications Center. We also have additional duties tied to the office, such as the service of civil and criminal processes and the protection of the courts. Otherwise, we are essentially the same in our function and mission.

22. What’s the difference between the Sheriff and a Deputy Sheriff?: The Sheriff is a constitutionally established elected position. This person is the head of the Sheriff’s Office and a senior law enforcement officer in the County. There is only one Sheriff. Those sworn law enforcement officers that work for the Sheriff, regardless of their rank, are the Sheriff’s deputies; thus the term Deputy Sheriff.

23. Where can I find a current listing of all your warrants?: Visit the Active Warrants And "Most Wanted" List page.

24. Where can I get information on getting a restraining order?: There are Domestic Abuse and Harassment informational forms that can be obtained at the Clerk of Court office or online. Vist the Temporary Restraining Order Information page.

25. Where do I find a list of traffic and local tickets and their costs?

You can download a copy of the Revised Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule, which covers most traffic citations as well as other violations.