MONROE — It’s an annual event that’s always a highlight of the year for Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud — the annual awards ceremony before the county board in which he gets to laud his deputies and staff for their efforts to “protect and to serve” county residents.
A number of them were honored at the Feb. 14 County Board meeting. They included: Sergeants Zachary Degner and Scott Maresch, Deputies Scott Ellefson, Brett Hermanson, Derek Whitcomb and Payton Goninen; IT Manager Ryan Ellingson, Lead Dispatcher Katherine Vetterli and Dispatchers Jeanette Hasse and Samantha Hose. All were lauded for actions taken during a critical incident on Wis. 11 near Browntown last October 2022.
In that high-speed chase incident, deputies were called to the area to locate an armed offender that had reportedly committed an armed car-jacking in Dubuque, before he fled from authorities to the Browntown area. There, he crashed the vehicle and was reported to be at large on foot in the area. The suspect was eventually found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound,
“The area was secured and technology in the form of a drone and thermal imagery and K-9 Ali were utilized to locate and contain the suspect,” Skatrud said in a statement. “During the event, the 911 center staff was inundated with 911 calls, radio transmissions and requests for other first responders. All received Sheriff’s Commendations for performing significant acts in public service.”
The Patrol Field Training Officer Division consisting of Lieutenant Cody Kanable, Sergeant Bernie Roidt, Deputy Dani Jackson, Sergeant Aaron King, Deputy Brett Hermanson, Sergeant Scott Maresch and Deputy Derek Whitcomb, the Jail Training Officer Division consisting of Lieutenant Curtis Quinn, Sergeant Nicole Grace, Sergeant Leslie Boyle, Deputy Jacob Schooff, Deputy Sara Conway, Deputy Cody Robertson and Deputy Melisa Richardson as well as the Communications Training Officer Division consisting of Lead Dispatcher Katherine Vetterli and Dispatcher Thomas Williams were all awarded with Sheriff’s Unit Citations given to divisions that display significant acts or “pronounced efforts in public service.”
The Detective Division, staffed by Lieutenant John Schuetz, Detective Betsy Krantz, Detective Chris Fiez and Detective Curtis Erdmann, was awarded a Unit Citation for significant acts in public service for their investigations of multiple cases involving the Sexual Assault of a Child, Child Pornography and Exposing a Child to Harmful Material — cases that led to criminal charges for the offenders; and services and assistance for the victims.
“The seats of the courtroom in the Green County Historic Courthouse were packed with family, friends and co-workers supporting those that were honored on Tuesday night and on behalf of the Green County Sheriff’s Office, we appreciate the partnership and support of the Green County Board of Supervisors; and for hosting our annual award presentations,” said Skatrud.
