The Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping the community safe and to preserving the quality of life that our citizens have come to know and expect.
Consistent with the values of a free society, it is the primary objective of the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office to strive towards a society free from crime and disorder. In doing so the Department’s role is to enforce the law in a fair and impartial manner, recognizing both the statutory and judicial limitations of police authority and the Constitutional Rights of all persons. It is not the role of the Department to legislate, render legal judgments or to punish.
Prevention of Crime
This County employs full-time professional officers to prevent crime, to deter it, and when that fails, to apprehend those who violate the law. Community involvement is essential to facilitate a free flow of information between the public and the Department, to assist in the identification of problem areas and to inform the public of crime statistics and trends. Additionally, knowledge of the county is necessary so that each department employee may be instilled with a sense of concern for the crime problems and law enforcement needs in their assigned area of responsibility.
Deterrence of Crime
When crimes cannot be deterred, crimes committed against property and against innocent victims in public places can be reduced by police patrol. Crime is curbed by potential criminals’ fear of immediate apprehension or by increased likelihood for his/her detection. The deterrence of crime requires the investigation of behavior, which reasonably appears to be criminally directed, and a close liaison and working relationship with other law enforcement agencies on a local, state and federal level.
Apprehension of Offenders
Once a crime has been committed, it is the duty of the Department to initiate the criminal justice process by identifying and arresting the perpetrator, to obtain necessary evidence, and to cooperate in the prosecution of the case. Swift and sure punishment serves as an effective deterrent to crime. Thus, the Department must diligently strive to solve all crimes and to bring the perpetrators to justice and to work cooperatively with the District Attorney’s Office.
Recovery and Return of Property
To minimize the losses due to crime, the Department makes every reasonable effort to recover lost or stolen property to identify its owner, and to insure its prompt return.
Movement of Traffic
To facilitate the safe and expeditious movement of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, the Department must enforce traffic laws; investigate traffic accidents and direct traffic. To enforce compliance with traffic laws and to develop driver awareness of causes of traffic accidents, the Department appropriately warns, cites, or arrests traffic law violators. Traffic accidents are also investigated to protect the rights of the involved parties, to care for the injured, and to determine the causes of accidents so methods of prevention may be developed; and when a traffic law violation is discovered, to gather necessary evidence and to prosecute the violator.
Security
The Department must provide security within the Government Center and especially the courts, through high visibility of Officer presence, Bailiffs to work with juries and court personnel.
Legal Process Service
The Department must execute and serve all acts of criminal and civil process, summons, complaints, judgments, writs and warrants. Securely and safely transport prisoners or other court-ordered individuals.
Public Services
Often, because there are not other public or private agencies available, the public relies upon this Department for assistance and advice in routine and emergency situations. For this reason, the Department will respond to incidents where it is not contemplated that an arrest will be made. Saving lives and aiding the injured, locating lost persons, keeping the peace and providing for many other miscellaneous needs, are basic services rendered by the Department.
Jail
The jail serves to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for individuals confined to the St. Croix County Jail. To provide any unused County inmate bed space to potential renters.
The mission of the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is to enhance the quality of life in St. Croix County by working cooperatively with the public to enforce the law, preserve the peace, reduce the fear of crime and provide for a safe environment.
