Everett Muhlhausen, a candidate for his third term as Pierce County sheriff, says experience makes him the better candidate for the job.

He said experience must be measured, not only in years, but also in lessons learned.

It’s important, he said, for the sheriff to have “experience in all levels of the department so that you can understand the ins and outs, not only of the operation, but of the employees.”

For example, he worked as a recreational safety patrol officer for years and said he understands both the equipment that officer works with and the issues he faces.

Also, said Muhlhausen, he was recently asked to chair the St. Croix Valley drug task force because he is the only sheriff in the group with drug investigation background.

His experience includes working as a jailer and dispatcher, patrol officer, juvenile officer, criminal investigator and SWAT team leader.

Muhlhausen added, “I worked under a sheriff who had absolutely no experience in law enforcement, and it was extremely difficult to do your job.”

Tight budgets

Muhlhausen sums up the biggest problem facing the department in one word: Budget.

“We totally rely on county tax dollars…we’re not in the business of collecting money, except for small things,” he said.

With a growing population, increased traffic and the problems a heavier concentration of people brings, there’s an added need for officers, but the department barely has enough to cover its shifts, said Muhlhausen.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has 45 officers, but that’s not enough for this growing area, he said.

A couple of years ago, the department stopped sending officers to car/deer accidents, unless there are extraordinary circumstances. Instead, drivers can find the report form online or get it from the Sheriff’s Department.

Muhlhausen expects the department will soon have prioritizing calls and not respond to the less crucial.

He said that sometimes in responding to minor property crime reports, officers gather information that could be important. And besides, he said, the loss of a $100 mailbox can upset a homeowner as much as a burglary: “It still hurts you.”

Cutting back

The County Board plans to freeze the Sheriff’s Department budget, and that worries Muhlhausen.

“It’s going to be very difficult,” he said, explaining that with higher wages and higher insurance costs, less will be left for anything else.

In preparation, said Muhlhausen, he has suspended equipment purchases, officer training and minor car repairs for the rest of the year. Snowmobile and ATV safety and other classes offered to the public have been discontinued to keep more officers on patrol.

“Our major cost in overtime is for vacations, holidays and sick leave,” said Muhlhausen in response to complaints about the cost of overtime.

He said that while department managers can control overtime costs for such things as investigations, they can’t predict when an officer will be off for illness, surgery or injury.

Muhlhausen said he is also looking at discontinuing the DARE program and assigning that officer to patrol year round.

His department has been effective at identifying and qualifying for grants, said Muhlhausen. Those funds have paid for everything from communications equipment to bullet-proof vests.

“We constantly look at sources (for grants),” he said.

He particularly noted interoperability communications equipment that allows county officers to communicate with other departments in Wisconsin as well as those in Minnesota.

Since Minnesota agencies are so close, Pierce County officers frequently work with them on river patrol and undercover drug operations and direct communications are vital, said Muhlhausen.

He said Pierce County is one of the first counties in the state with that ability, thanks mostly to the foresight of Sheriff’s Department staff.

As for department morale, Muhlhausen admits it isn’t as high as he would like.

Part of that is the uncertainty of an election year and part is concern over tight budgets.

“They want to have good equipment to do the job well and when they see that taken away from us, they say, ‘Why should I work so hard?’” said Muhlhausen.

He said officers are also disappointed that there’s so little money for training. “It hurts me too that we are unable to provide that for them.”

Son’s problems

“It has broadened my experience,” said Muhlhausen of his son Cody’s problems with the law. The elder Muhlhausen called police after discovering a break-in at his house, suspecting that his son and his son’s friends were responsible.

Cody, who had an earlier theft conviction, has been charged with burglary and is scheduled to go to trial in January. Cody is one of three children adopted by Muhlhausen and his late wife.

“We knew what we were getting into when we adopted,” he said. Because of concerns about early influences and drug issues, his late wife used all the resources she could to avoid problems, said Muhlhausen.

He said he has never regretted adopting.

“(Being a father) gave me new perspectives into kids. I’d never do anything different. If I had the chance, I’d do it again,” he said.

Muhlhausen said he has stepped back and let the legal system work without trying to influence the authorities in this case.

“It has given me insights into our system,” he said. “We in law enforcement often times become too callous, and we don’t take time to understand, as much as we should, the victim.”

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