April 2025
Hello, Wisconsin DOJ colleagues!
I’m Riley Vetterkind, the new communications director here at DOJ. I look forward to continuing to get to know as many of you who make up our diverse and skilled department as possible.
As you well know, the work of DOJ makes a real difference in the lives of Wisconsinites, and it’s a great privilege to be working with you all to fulfill our department’s public safety mission.
A little about me – I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and attended UW-Madison, where I studied journalism. Before joining DOJ, I worked for several years as a reporter for various Madison area publications, including Wisconsin Watch, WisPolitics.com, and the Wisconsin State Journal. Following my time in journalism, I joined the Wisconsin Elections Commission in 2021 as the agency’s public information officer.
Throughout my time in journalism and state government, I have emphasized transparent communication, deliberate and thoughtful decision-making, respect and collaboration in my interactions with colleagues, and a measured approach when the unexpected inevitably occurs.
Good communication and productive working relationships go hand in hand – I look forward to collaborating with as many of you as possible to continue getting the word out about the good work DOJ does.
Best,
Riley Vetterkind
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Table of Contents
Paul W. Roemer Award
On March 11, Ron Betley, Director of the Training and Standards Bureau, received the Paul W. Roemer Award from the Association of SWAT Personnel of Wisconsin. This award honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on tactical services and law enforcement.
Ron was recognized for his work on 2023 Act 218, which authorizes Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) professionals to carry firearms in designated restricted areas while on duty. Governor Evers signed the bill into law on March 26, 2024. Congratulations to Ron on this well-deserved recognition!
Recognize Staff in the Beacon!
If you or someone in your division/office has recently received recognition for their work, and you think it should be considered for a future Beacon Newsletter, share this with your Division/Officer leadership.
Division of Forensic Sciences
Crime Lab Tours
DOJ recently hosted legislators at the Madison and Milwaukee crime labs, providing an inside look at forensic operations in the state. District attorneys from Rock, Milwaukee and Outagamie counties joined the tours and emphasized the critical role of the labs and the need for additional forensic staff.
 Milwaukee Crime Lab Construction Update
Construction continues on the new Milwaukee-area crime lab, which will enhance forensic services statewide. Stay tuned for updates.
New BEAST.net System Launches at DFS
DFS recently implemented BEAST.net, a long-overdue upgrade to its Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). This marks the first major overhaul of the system since the 1990s and is expected to improve evidence tracking and reporting across all state crime labs.
Office of School Safety (OSS)
Collaboration on New Grant Scoring Tool
Grants Specialist Jacob Dorff collaborated with BBF and OCVS to enhance the review process for the Critical Incident Stabilization Grant available to Wisconsin schools. He developed a standardized decision matrix and training program to ensure clear, objective and equitable evaluations.
Collaboration with DLES to Provide Training to Law Enforcement
OSS partnered with DLES and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to train law enforcement on best practices for interacting with students with disabilities. The panel discussion, moderated by Trish Kilpin, featured law enforcement and education experts. Watch the webinar here. Passcode: j#S*8C8i
OSS Provides In-Person Training to Every Corner of the State
OSS provides free school safety training to schools all over Wisconsin. In an ongoing effort to reach every corner of the state, our staff recently combined forces to offer two full days of instruction in Eagle River, making crucial in-person training available to attendees from 14 counties in northern and central Wisconsin.
“The time of travel you saved for countless districts and made it possible for many law enforcement and EMS staff to come is invaluable. Besides the obvious benefits it also sent a message of how much you care about our students and staff.” – Northland Pines District Administrator
Office of Open Government (OOG)
In 2024, the OOG responded to 804 public records requests, the third-highest total ever, surpassing 2023’s total by 110 requests. The OOG’s full statistics for last year can be found in the OOG’s 2024 Annual Report.
In the first two months of 2025, the OOG has already responded to over 180 requests, including a single-month record of 107 in February.
The OOG also updated its Open Meetings Law Compliance Guide.
Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)
Cold Case Identification Brings Closure After 66 Years
In November, DCI identified the remains of a child murdered in 1959, bringing closure to a decades-old case. The Port Washington community held a proper burial, and the case received national media attention.
This effort is part of the UW Oshkosh Bones Project, a partnership between DCI and forensic anthropologist Dr. Jordan Karsten to help identify over 70 cases of unidentified remains. In recognition of this work, DCI will receive an award at the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators Conference in May.
Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS)
Track-Kit
Thanks to Steve Wagner (DLES), Truli Nielsen (DCI), and Mallory Nichols (DFS), nearly all Wisconsin law enforcement agencies – except for 17 – are now registered users of Track-Kit, the state’s sexual assault kit tracking system. This participation ensures victims can access real-time updates on their kits.
All medical providers treating sexual assault patients in Wisconsin are now using Track-Kit.
Support for Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) Victims
The Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) Program participated in the Madison Area Resource Center (MARC) event, providing direct assistance to victims and families affected by the ALCS shooting. In partnership with with the Madison Police Department, Dane County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness and Crime Response Units, CVC has been able to efficiently process financial assistance.
To date, 226 applications have been received, with $11,456.52 paid out for crime-related expenses. Additional financial support will be provided as needed.
OCVS is also working with national experts to address both immediate and long-term victim needs. Multiple federal grant applications are in progress to support:
- Ongoing mental health resources for students and staff
- First responder overtime and mental health support programs
- The creation of a long-term resiliency center
Website
The new Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) website launched recently. If you haven’t checked it out already, you can do so at its new URL, www.wisdoj.gov.
This redesigned website features improved navigation, with the goal of making it easier for the public to access DOJ programs and services.
For questions or feedback related to the new website, contact the DOJ Communications team (dojcommunications@doj.state.wi.us).
Thank you again to everyone who helped make this new website launch possible!
Human Resources
Payroll
The annual updates to the premiums for our Life and Income Continuation Insurance plans will take effect on April 1, 2025.
Life Insurance: The annual premium adjustment for life insurance began with the March 6, 2025, payroll check. Premiums for life insurance are collected one month in advance of the coverage date. These premiums are based on your age and your highest year of WRS earnings.
ICI (Income Continuation Insurance): The annual premium adjustment for ICI will begin with the April 3, 2025, payroll check. The premiums are determined by your prior year’s salary and sick leave earned or year-end balance.
This summer, ETF will launch a new system for enrolling in or making benefit changes. This update will affect both new hires and existing employees. Be on the lookout for further guidance on submitting benefit changes for life events and making elections for the 2026 open enrollment.
For more details on these benefits, please visit the Employee Trust Funds website at etf.wi.gov, or contact payroll@doj.state.wi.us with any questions.
Parking
Two new parking programs will soon become available at the Risser Justice Center (RJC):
Hourly parking
DOJ employees, LTEs and contractors now have access to hourly parking via a parking application (app) called Wayleadr. This app allows staff who are required to report to 17 W. Main Street for work or meetings, to reserve and pay for a parking stall on a daily or hourly basis at a competitive downtown Madison rate.
Reservations may be made on a user’s mobile phone or via desktop on the Wayleadr website. Through Wayleadr, you can reserve a parking spot (up to two weeks in advance), cancel it (up to 30 minutes before use), and “nudge” someone who’s parked in your spot.
The cost to the user will be $1.50 per hour, which is consistent with the downtown rate at other state office locations. The seven stalls are located on parking ramp P4 and include stalls 266-272.
To get started, download the Wayleadr app to your mobile phone through the Apple App Store (Link) or Google Play Store (Link). Sign in with single sign-on credentials (SSO) using your state issued email and password (the same as your STAR PeopleSoft login info). Once you’ve signed into the app, you are ready to upload funds to your Wayleadr wallet and start reserving spaces.
Stall Sharing
DOJ is launching a stall-sharing program for RJC employees, aligning with DOA’s updated parking policies. A new app will connect employees interested in sharing a parking space. More details on stall sharing will be provided soon.
Stay informed about major case updates, DOJ initiatives, and more by subscribing to DOJ press releases.
To subscribe, please email DOJCommunications@doj.state.wi.us and request to be added to the press releases list. Employees can unsubscribe at any time.
Stay informed with the latest legislative and departmental policy updates. All policies can be found at justicenet.widoj.gov/policies.
Wellness encompasses more than physical fitness; it's about nurturing all aspects of your health and well-being. While physical fitness is important, it's equally vital to consider your mental, emotional, and social health.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has identified 8 dimensions of wellness. They focus on balance throughout your life to be healthy.
For a description of these dimensions, click here
Prefer a video? Click here
Looking for more information? Here is a guide that dives into the eight dimensions of wellness, click here
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Feeling a tad bit tense after a recent email or phone call? Well, we may not be able to treat you to a luxurious full-body massage, but we've got just the thing - a chair massage pad that could work wonders for you during your time at the office.
In Risser's fitness center, you'll find not just one but two of these chair massage pads. And guess what? All the other Wisconsin DOJ sites have a nifty massage chair pad as well! These massage pads were purchased through wellness committee grant funds.
To utilize the massage pad, simply make your way to the fitness center (located next to Room 123). Massage chair pads are hanging on the wall with the cubbies. Grab the red folder to borrow it for up to 2 hours in your workstation.
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The Wellness Committee presents JusticeConnect, a customized Microsoft Teams chat space created specifically for Wisconsin DOJ team members to interact, engage, and foster meaningful relationships across divisions and workplaces. You can think of it a little bit like chatting at the water cooler.
JusticeConnect features a range of themed channels where individuals with similar interests can come together to discuss their hobbies and passions. Whether you adore cooking, love pets, are crazy about sports, or have a knack for gardening, there's a channel waiting for you to explore and connect with colleagues.
Come join us on JusticeConnect to build new relationships, share your hobbies, and get to know your colleagues. We can't wait to see you there!
Questions? Please contact Wellness Committee Chair Shelly Sandry (sandrymm@doj.state.wi.us).
Wouldn't it be delightful to spread some positivity through the Wellness Committee's 'Kudos' program? This program offers a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and support of our colleagues. Why not take a moment to share a heartfelt note of gratitude and bring a smile to someone's face today?
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Please contact Olivia Sassman (SassmanOB@doj.state.wi.us) or Sarah Arttus (ArttusSK@doj.state.wi.us) for additional information on having kudos sent by the Wellness Committee to another Wisconsin DOJ team member.
Do you celebrate, recognize, or honor a heritage or awareness month you’d like to be included in our monthly emails? Please email your ideas to the Diversity Advisory Council (diversitycouncil@doj.state.wi.us). This is an opportunity for us to engage with one another and continue to build our DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) efforts.
The Diversity Advisory Council is a dedicated group of individuals from various divisions who are committed to addressing the recruitment, hiring, and retention of underrepresented groups in the DOJ's workforce.
Thank you for reading the Justice Beacon
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