For the Press Times
GREEN BAY – On Tuesday Feb. 13, area law enforcement and residents were recognized during the Brown County Sheriff’s Office Benevolent Association meeting held at Rock Garden Supper Club, in Green Bay.
Those recognized and notes on their recognition included:
Good Samaritan
Barbara Villanueva-Matta
On Aug. 24, Cpl. Kevin Smith was having lunch in the intake breakroom when he began to choke. He stepped out of the breakroom and into the office of Probation Liaison Barbara Villanueva-Matta, who recognized the problem and immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, successfully dislodging the item.
Christa Chervenka
On Oct. 15, deputies and other first responders were dispatched to the far east end of Lineville Road for a vehicle that drove off the road and flipped into the water. There were three occupants in the vehicle including two young children, ages four and six. Chervenka was in the area but did not witness the crash. She contacted emergency services and stayed on scene to assist and provided a warm and safe place for the children to sit while the investigation was being conducted. Christa even offered her own phone for the kids to use to watch videos to try and keep them content.
Certificate of Appreciation
The Sipiorski Family
On Aug. 10, 2023, members of the Brown County Drug Task Force tracked three criminals from Arizona. Narcotics investigators worked with the Brown County and Green Bay SWAT teams in an attempt to stop the vehicle and take the suspects into custody. The suspect vehicle initially fled reaching speeds of 100 mph. The vehicle crossed into on-coming traffic before entering the ditch and traveling approximately 100 yards into a corn field. Three suspects fled on foot and were eventually taken into custody. After an initial search of the vehicle, investigators believed the suspects stashed additional evidence prior to being taken into custody. The Sipiorski family was extremely cooperative with law enforcement allowing full access to their property. As the multi-acre search continued through days and weeks, the family continued to provide equipment and time to aid in the investigation. They prematurely harvested crops to assist in the search for drugs and firearms. Their cooperation aided in the seizure of an additional 21.44 grams of cocaine, 265.81 grams of fentanyl, U.S. currency and two firearms.
Unit Citation
Michael Vincent and patrol deputies
On Saturday May 13, deputies were dispatched to a residence in the village of Bellevue for a male who had been shot. Responding deputies were quick to gather information from members of the victim’s family and remove them from the immediate area. Deputies proceeded to formulate a plan utilizing perimeter security and a contact team to approach the victim. Deputies moved into the backyard and located the victim who was being tended to by three adults. The victim was in dire need of medical aid. Without hesitation, deputies maintained security and rendered aid including application of a tourniquet to the male’s leg. Deputies worked with Green Bay Rescue to remove the victim from the scene and prepare him for transport to the hospital for advanced medical care. Officers showed care and empathy to members of the family while transitioning from incident response to investigation.
Sgt. Rick Loppnow and Sgt. Justin Raska
On July 26, the sheriff received a mutual-aid request to investigate an inmate death in the Winnebago County Jail. Sergeant Rick Loppnow and Sergeant Justin Raska received initial information suggesting the cause of death was a fentanyl overdose. They responded to the scene and began their investigation. The inmate had been arrested by an agency and booked into another jail before being transferred to the Winnebago County Jail. Loppnow and Raska spent countless hours reviewing video surveillance and statements from those involved in the inmate’s movement. They collected evidence for forensic testing and maintained communication with stakeholders. They prepared a professional and comprehensive report detailing facts and ensuring transparency.
Achievement in Investigation
Sgt. Matthew Wilson
On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Brown County Patrol responded to a residence in the village of Allouez for a female runaway complaint. Initial response to the incident led to concerns of possible sex-trafficking. Wilson started following up on tips including shared social media posts. He completed emergency subpoenas to social media platforms to locate any information on the juvenile’s whereabouts. The investigation led to growing concerns of abuse or trafficking. Wilson sent out statewide alerts and case information. On July 3, the juvenile was located at a truck stop in Clark County and returned home. The juvenile disclosed she began an online chat with a 55-year-old truck driver from Superior. The suspect picked her up in Allouez and drove her to Superior, where he assaulted her over the course of three days. Seeing the missing person information on the local news, the suspect feared being caught so he dropped the juvenile off at the truck stop. The suspect was arrested, tried and convicted on several felonies.
Merit Award
Directed Enforcement Officers Brandon Dhuey, Josh Sanford and Brandon Burgraff
In the fall of 2023, the Howard Village Hall was undergoing significant restructuring which displaced officers from their original dedicated space. Police operations were being relocated to a different area of the building which would require its own extensive renovation in order to be suitable for officer use. Throughout the process, Dhuey, Sanford and Burgraff managed the design, demolition, restructuring and renovation of the new space, often during their personal time while tapping into their personal skillsets, making the police space at the Howard hall suited for deputies for years to come.
Sgt. Tracy Holschbach
On April 24, Sgt. Holschbach was at Pulaski High School when teachers shared concerns they had about a student. The concerns included risky online sexual relationships in addition to possible abuse and neglect in the home. Holschbach met with the child to assess her wellbeing and immediately recognized the child was at high-risk of being taken advantage of and observed significant signs of neglect and lack of hygiene. Although this case spanned beyond Holschbach’s duties, she expressed a commitment to see the case through to the end. Within days, Holschbach developed a plan to execute a search warrant so investigators could get inside the residence to assess the conditions and establish a criminal case for neglect of a child. She also arranged for a forensic interview and a medical exam with Children’s Hospital. Holschbach was able to make an arrest and secure a conviction on the sex offender.
Distinguished Service
Deputy Carly Resch
Throughout her service with the Sheriff’s Office Deputy Resch has built a reputation of serving with care and compassion. Known for her leadership in both peer support and agency volunteerism, Resch has expanded her service to include membership on the agency’s Crisis Negotiation Team and serving on the State’s Law Enforcement Death Response (LEDR) team.
In 2023, Deputy Resch was the sole negotiator in several high-risk negotiations.As a first-year member of the state’s LEDR team, Resch has responded to the deaths of four Wisconsin law enforcement officers in three separate incidents. She took lead in conducting agency debriefs and was instrumental in coordinating funeral arrangements. She ensured tasks were covered so the officers’ peers and families could grieve.
Life Saving
Lt. Jason Katers
On March 29, Lt. Jason Katers was working out at the local gym in Oconto prior to the start of his shift when an elderly man working out near him suffered a medical emergency. Katers observed the patient being lowered to the ground and two other elderly adult males began CPR. Katers quickly responded to the downed victim and took over CPR. He continued to administer quality CPR while staff members retrieved the AED and called EMS. EMS transported the patient to the adjacent Bellin Hospital where he received advanced medical care.
Correctional Officer Andrew Rupnow
On June 12, Rupnow was conducting his initial security round at the start of his shift in Alpha Pod when he noted some unusual observations during his contact with an inmate. The inmate informed Rupnow that he did not feel well and felt too weak to get up. Rupnow summoned the assistance of medical staff for an assessment. They were unable to get a blood pressure on the inmate. Staff then removed the blanket and discovered a large self-induced injury to his left leg with significant blood loss. The inmate was provided immediate medical care and promptly transported to the hospital where he received advanced treatment.
Correctional Officer Andrew Rupnow
On Sept. 2, Rupnow was monitoring the meal service of 57 inmates in Alpha Pod when he observed an inmate in distress. Rupnow quickly approached the inmate and asked if he was choking, the inmate was unable to respond. Rupnow, with the assistance of other inmates, was able to get the inmate into a standing position where he was able to deliver multiple abdominal thrusts, successfully dislodging the obstruction. The inmate was returned to a seated position where he was able to recover and receive an assessment from medical staff.
Correctional Officer of the Year
Correctional Officer Andrew Rupnow
Rupnow has served the Brown County Jail for nine years and is reliable, communicates professionally and effectively with his co-workers and the inmates he supervises. He runs his housing unit in an organized and consistent manner and can be counted on to have order among his inmates. He is approachable and maintains a positive attitude. Rupnow is a member of the Correctional Emergency Response Team and is a field training officer. He has demonstrated mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities to be a leader among his peers and a knowledgeable instructor to new hires. He is attentive to his surroundings which has led to two recent lifesaving incidents. He is an asset to the Brown County Jail and a role model for others.
Officer of the Year
Deputy Al Wysocki
As a seven-and-a-half year veteran of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Wysocki has become the example of a true law enforcement professional. His relentless pursuit of high-level drug dealers led to two large fentanyl seizures, which was instrumental in the federal prosecution of several suspects. He worked tirelessly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Interpol and the Office of International Affairs to extradite the primary suspect. His dedication to drafting and executing multiple search warrants in the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas played a critical role in the largest cocaine seizure in Drug Task Force history. Deputy Wysocki has become a trusted trainer, contributing to the betterment of the team and/or agency. Wysocki serves on the Wisconsin Narcotic Officers Association executive board, is a team leader for the Crisis Negotiation Team, is a member of the Dive Team, Mobile Field Force and Clear Team.