Chippewa County WI Sheriff gets No Confidence Vote

Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes is facing a severe setback as the county's board of supervisors, following a months-long sexual harassment investigation, has overwhelmingly expressed a "no confidence" vote in his leadership. With a decisive 19-1 majority, the board passed a resolution on February 20th, stating their lack of confidence in Hakes' ability to lead the sheriff's office. A subsequent resolution emphasizes that all future communications between the department and the board should go through the county's chief deputy rather than Hakes.

According to a joint statement from Chippewa County Board Chair Dean Gullickson and County Administrator Randy Scholz, the vote was prompted by allegations that Hakes engaged in "inappropriate communications" targeting a female job applicant and a subordinate. The statement further accuses him of displaying favoritism by texting a racially charged meme. Additionally, it claims Hakes provided false information about his work history, notably his departure from a previous position as a City of Chetek police officer. The statement alleges that Hakes resigned to avoid an investigation related to comments he made to a victim, suggesting he could manipulate or erase his body camera recordings.

The statement contends that Hakes' actions have had a detrimental impact on the Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney's Office, and the Chippewa County Department of Administration, raising concerns about public safety. The district attorney concluded in December that Hakes should be included in Brady/Giglio disclosures, a list identifying law enforcement officers whose credibility may be questioned due to incidents of untruthfulness, criminal convictions, candor issues, or similar concerns.

In response to the board's decision, Hakes criticized the third-party investigation, conducted by a Madison-based attorney and costing over $100,000 in taxpayer funds. In a Facebook post, he expressed anticipation of leading the Sheriff's Office effectively without the investigation hindering his abilities.

Chippewa County Board Supervisor Ken Schmidt clarified that the investigation was not driven by bias but rather a duty to investigate sexual harassment allegations involving employees or department heads thoroughly. He explained that the "no confidence" vote was a way for the board to signal to the public awareness of the problems within the department. Schmidt acknowledged the board's limited authority over the sheriff but emphasized their responsibility to address the situation appropriately.

While removal proceedings were considered in October, the board opted for the "no confidence" vote as an alternative measure, as they lacked the authority to remove an elected sheriff directly. Schmidt emphasized that the situation will remain unchanged until Hakes faces re-election in 2026. He hoped Hakes would avoid involvement in significant cases, especially considering his placement on the Brady/Giglio disclosure list, raising concerns about his credibility in legal proceedings.