Entire police department in Brown County placed on leave pending investigation

Do they get to investigate themselves?

The entire Brown County police department has been placed on leave as an investigation is conducted.

According to the village, all Sardinia Police Department officers have been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said that the investigation involves allegations of criminal misconduct among members of the police department.

“There is currently an outside consultant conducting an administrative investigation into allegations of misconduct and or policy violations at the Sardinia Police Department,” Sheriff Christopher Hodges said in a statement.

The details around the criminal allegations have yet to be released.

The Village of Sardinia states that the decision to place the department on leave was made to ensure the integrity of the investigation.

Brown County deputies will be handling all calls to the village while the department is suspended.
Community reacts

Long-time Sardinia resident Jeff Miller said when he heard the news, it didn’t come as a shock.

“I think they need to do something about these police around here,” he said.

“I’m not surprised at all because it’s been going on for so long around this area.”

I asked Miller to elaborate on what he meant by it’s been going on for so long...He mentioned crooked actions and on-going harrasment has been a constant from Sardina officers.

“The cops sit and watch people and pull people over for no reason around this area and I think it’s a bunch of crap.”

Other villagers online have reported similar occurrences over the years.

Details around the criminal allegations have yet to be released. But in a statement provided to FOX19 today, the Brown County Sheriff said an outside consultant is “conducting an administrative investigation into allegations of misconduct and or policy violations at the Sardinia Police Department.”

Sheriff Hodges confirms the Brown County Sheriff’s Office will be handling all law enforcement calls for service within the village while the department is suspended.

Miller says he’s pleased with this decision.

“It’s about time something happened around this area... I think it might do good for Brown County to come and control this area a little more and to try and solve this situation as to what’s going on in this town.”