The operations of the Vilas County Sheriff's department have been modified in response to the COVID-19 virus outbreak which has seen at least four cases out of 145 tested in Vilas County infected.
According to Sherriff Joe Fath, his department has been aware of the distance recommendations and have changed the practice of deputies when they pull a vehicle over. “We don't approach from the drivers side but have changed to the passenger side of the vehicle,” Sheriff Fath said. “Our deputies and detectives still serve warrants but we ask persons to come out of their dwelling.” A law enforcement desire according to Sheriff Fath is to have the address of any positive case or any that are undergoing required quarantine provided to dispatch personnel so if deputies are called to that address they can take necessary precautions; they were not told of the location of the four that tested positive and have since recovered. “If the person taken into custody is due to a alleged violence incident, we will transport them to jail where they will be screened before entering the jail. If no violence is involved we may defer their initial appearance to a future date in cooperation with the court.”
Vilas court proceedings are now live streamed and can be observed since new software installed is not as cumbersome as we thought it might be, according the Sheriff. “We've given out six warnings on non-essential businesses being open and one with a second warning we are going to court.”
Deputy sheriffs are part of a union and they have been made aware of and accept that precautions need to be taken for the various situations they find themselves in. “We're working well with the union and they understand the importance of wearing gloves and masks if needed and they are doing what they need to do,” Patrick Schmidt, chief deputy said. With the general fishing season about to open, Sheriff Fath has some advice. “I don't have a problem with people who come up here for vacation or fishing but I urge them to follow social distance recommendations,” he said. “Please use your head to keep our communities safe so we don't have problems and don't have to shut things down.”
The Sheriff also encourages more people to use delivery services and outside store pickup rather than entering a business if possible.
