- Marathon County established and is implementing a uniform address system in all townships and the two villages that agreed to participate. This will provide a sequential address numbering system in those areas with no confusion pertaining to similar or same road names being used. This process should be completed in 2019.
- Marathon County District Attorney and area law enforcement implemented a “Proxy” system to assess whether or not an offender is best suited for initial incarceration or if a summons/referral is more appropriate for future court appearances. The Proxy has resulted in a reduction of jail bed days required to house offenders in Marathon County. Out of County jail housing needs have decreased and $50,000.00 in budget dollars were saved.
- The Sheriff’s Office, Wausau Police Department and North Central Health Care Center implemented a Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART) with the goals to reduce the numbers of involuntary detentions, provide better access and divert persons to mental health services and provide immediate crisis response to alleviate demand on the Crisis Center. In 2018, CART responded to 41% of all mental health calls for service resulting in a 36% decrease in emergency detentions.
- Technology paves new avenues for criminals to engage in fraudulent schemes and avoid detection. The Sheriff’s Office forensic technology lab works directly with Marathon County law enforcement and is building partnerships with other central Wisconsin law enforcement agencies to impact crime committed through technology.
- The Sheriff’s Office and North Central Health Care Center received an $80,000.00 grant from the Wisconsin Division of Health Services to create a Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) program in the county jail. This program will be the first in the State to offer Suboxone or Vivitrol to our inmate population to assist with opioid addiction issues. Aspirus Wausau Hospital has offered additional financial assistance and the services of two doctors.
- More area citizens are learning about and receiving local emergency alerts and warnings through their personal devices.
- More individuals and businesses are aware of cyber threats such as data loss risks, viruses, and ransomware which may create problems for their organization or themselves personally.
- Educational opportunities and law enforcement reviews have caused more area businesses to prepare emergency response plans and practice them, ensuring employees have the necessary equipment, know where to go and know how to keep themselves safe when an emergency occurs.
- Effective radio communications for all emergency services is essential. It provides responders with valuable safety and response information helping all gain a better understanding of the situation. The needs of the community have been assessed and evaluated through various studies which indicate the vital need to open another radio channel for law enforcement services. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the community to accomplish this while remaining fiscally responsible.
- The uniform addressing system was implemented in all of Marathon County’s townships and in two villages. This helped eliminate various grids that were being used. Other municipalities should follow the direction initiated, eliminating inconsistent directional data, road names and numbering systems. This would assist toward Marathon County’s goal of being the safest county.
- Shortages continue in addiction treatment professionals being available. A 2018 Wisconsin Professional Police Association survey identified 77% of respondents feel law enforcement should treat people addicted to opioids as persons in need of care and treatment rather than only as criminal offenders.
- The Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) program is offered in the county jail, but this needs to be expanded outside of the correctional setting as a majority of the persons impacted by opioid addictions are not in our jail but being treated at local medical facilities.
- Initiate local discussions that could drive national decisions focusing on solutions and funding to better serve individuals with mental health needs moving away from incarceration to better suited means and methods to serve this vulnerable population.
- Impaired driving is a significant and growing problem as communities elect to decriminalize or legalize other controlled substances. Communities need to be cognizant of how these changes will impact law enforcement, human services and the health care system.
