Senate Bill 862 proposes significant changes to the administration of county sheriff offices in Wisconsin. Key provisions include establishing a new procedure for temporarily filling sheriff vacancies when there is no undersheriff, which will now be appointed by the presiding judge of the county's circuit court instead of the coroner. The bill also outlines the appointment and removal process for undersheriffs, specifies their duties during a vacancy or incapacity of the sheriff, and provides protections for deputies appointed as undersheriffs in counties without civil service. Additionally, it mandates that deputy sheriffs accused of misconduct must request a disciplinary hearing within two weeks of receiving notice of charges and removes the prohibition on suspending or dismissing deputies without pay until the resolution of the matter.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the responsibilities related to service of process when the sheriff is a party to an action, transferring these duties to the county clerk. It also changes the appointment process for county medical examiners, allowing the county executive or administrator to make appointments, with the ability to remove them at will. The bill repeals and recreates certain statutes, including the removal of the authority of the county board to establish traffic officer positions outside the sheriff's office, thereby consolidating law enforcement responsibilities within the sheriff's office. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the operations of county sheriff offices and enhance the accountability and structure of law enforcement in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.505(1)(ic), 20.505, 48.06(2)(a), 48.06, 59.26