OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – Starting April 1, Northern Oconto County will have its own community officer.
Local ATV and snowmobiling clubs have helped fund the creation of the position, which Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Schindel has been tapped to fill.
“60% of the position is going to be dedicated to recreational enforcement, and 40% is going to be dedicated to community policing efforts. (My duties will include) ATV/UTV enforcement, boating enforcement, snow mobile enforcement. I’ll be focusing on quality of life issues and problem solving to make the community safer.”
Schindel explains why the focus is being put on just one part of the county.
“Just because of the amount of recreation that does take place in that area. I think that’s probably the main reason. Also, the community members that do live there wanted to see an additional law enforcement presence.”
He is asked if that focus on the northern part of the county has anything to do with recent safety concerns at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
“That was a separate issue. That had no bearing on the reason that this position was created.”
