CONTACT: John P. Koremenos, Jr., Communications Director
(608) 266-1221

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Brad Schimel continued his 72-county statewide tour to meet with local law enforcement and elected officials this week with stops in Door and Manitowoc counties on Monday, February 19.

“It’s inspiring to work alongside dedicated and hardworking local law enforcement and public health leaders across the state as we tackle some of the state’s biggest challenges, like opioid and methamphetamine abuse,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Both meetings were great opportunities to create open, multi-disciplinary dialogue about the stresses on law enforcement and how to create stronger partnerships that will make Wisconsin safer and stronger.”

“We are grateful for having the opportunity for a meaningful discussion with Attorney General Schimel about the topics that matter most to the community from a law enforcement perspective,” said Door County District Attorney Colleen Nordin. “The conversation provided an opportunity not only to hear a variety of perspectives from other community leaders, but to also think collaboratively about finding meaningful ways of improving the way we serve our community.”

“We appreciate Attorney General Brad Schimel coming to Manitowoc County to meet with local officials and to discuss those issues and challenges that impact our community,” said Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann. “This was an excellent opportunity to work together in identifying problems and possible solutions.”

Attorney General Schimel and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership team is meeting with law enforcement and local officials in every county to discuss public safety concerns specific to each county. The challenges faced by law enforcement leaders and the criminal justice system differ from county to county, even in neighboring communities, making it critical for DOJ to be responsive to public safety needs at the local level. DOJ is local communities’ partner in safety, and these meetings aim to discover what resources and efforts DOJ can provide to make Wisconsin safer and stronger.

DOJ financially supports a number of programs to help public safety officials keep the counties safe.

This year, Manitowoc County will receive more than $142,000 to fund the county’s alcohol and drug treatment court, providing an alternative to incarceration for those struggling with addiction. Since 2015, DOJ has provided more than $72,000 to Manitowoc County, and more than $24,000 to Door County, to fight heroin and methamphetamine in the region. This funding is available through 2018.

DOJ also financially supports Door and Manitowoc counties’ crime victim services organizations, ensuring that crime victims are given guidance and counseling as they participate in the criminal justice system. Since 2015, through U.S. DOJ Victims of Crime Act grants, DOJ has distributed more than $388,000 to victim services providers in Door County and nearly $298,000 to victim services providers in Manitowoc County.

To see what other counties the Attorney General has visited, and where he will be going next, go to: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/ag-roundtable-map

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/ag-schimel-continues-72-county-tour-discuss-public-safety-door-and-manitowoc-counties

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