A detective sergeant in charge of the drug unit at the Oneida County Sheriff's Department has been arrested after an investigation into missing funds.
Two counts of Misconduct in Public Office have been leveled against Sara Welcenbach, formerly known as Sara Gardner.
Sheriff Grady Hartman says investigators allege the theft of money from a confidential fund. He says when they suspected a problem they turned it over to Wood and Portage county investigators who made the arrest Wednesday. He says the drug investigation unit has been placed under new leadership and is continuing their duties.
Hartman assured the public that the department is determined to continue to serve with integrity and professionalism. The matter was turned over to the state Attorney General's office and Hartman said he hoped the state pursues the prosecution with vigor.
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The Oneida County Sheriff's Department press release is below.
For Immediate Release – At approximately 10:30 a.m., the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sara Welcenbach (formerly known as Sara Gardner) in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Sara Welcenbach’s position with the agency is that of Detective Sergeant in charge of the Drug Unit. This criminal complaint contained the following charges: Misconduct in Public Office (2 counts).
Sheriff Hartman said, “There are no words to describe how I felt when I had heard Sara Welcenbach was alleged to have been involved in the theft of money from confidential funds from 2010 to 2014. Sara Welcenbach has not only been alleged to have stolen money, she also violated our trust, and the public’s trust. She has tarnished the badge of every sworn officer who has promised to protect and serve.” I want the media and public to know that when we learned of the missing funds, we immediately contacted the District Attorney. An outside agency was sought to conduct the investigation. The investigation was turned over to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.
Sheriff Hartman wants the public to know that since the discovery of the alleged theft, the Drug Unit has been placed under new leadership, has been functioning at a high level and continues to arrest subjects involved in the distribution of controlled substances. He stated “that this was an isolated incident and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has taken steps to ensure that this type of incident will not happen again. Our agency has many great employees and this type of behavior is not an example of the quality men and women who serve the citizens of Oneida County.” The Constitution says, “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.” The Sheriff’s Office knows this incident may cause the public to question our reliability, but we are committed to serving our citizens with integrity and professionalism. Sheriff Hartman concluded his remarks by stating “Sara Welcenbach has betrayed the trust of the citizens of Oneida County. That is why I am requesting the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute this case to the fullest extent that the statutes allow.”
