Wisconsin
Entries where the acting authority was Wisconsin (WI), whatever state or country the events took place in.
Jurisdiction is who acted, not where it happened. Federal conduct inside Wisconsin is filed under Federal, not here.
2026 Events (4)
Kenosha County deputy charged with felony misconduct for using Flock and Polaris databases to track a coworker
On August 19, 2026, the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office charged former Kenosha County Sheriff's Deputy Frank McGrath with two felony counts of misconduct in public office for using the FLOCK license-plate-reader network and the Polaris squad-tracking system to monitor a fellow deputy with whom he had a personal relationship. A county internal investigation had already substantiated the conduct, but McGrath was permitted to resign under a negotiated separation agreement in December 2025 without the matter being referred for criminal review; a prosecutor took it up only after Kenosha County Eye publisher Kevin Mathewson filed a John Doe petition in March 2026 asking a judge to compel the review.
Wisconsin Judicial Commission charged Winnebago County judge with threatening attorneys, demanding $28,000 payment over political support
On August 3, 2026, the Wisconsin Judicial Commission filed a formal misconduct complaint with the Wisconsin Supreme Court against Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Scott Woldt. The complaint alleges that after his contested 2023 reelection, Woldt threatened attorneys who had backed his opponent and demanded a $28,000 campaign-cost payment from one of them, and separately questioned a Filipino-descent psychiatrist expert witness's understanding of English during a 2023 hearing. Woldt, previously suspended in 2021 for unrelated misconduct, denies wrongdoing through his attorney; a three-judge panel will review the complaint.
Milwaukee detective assigned to investigate Flock camera misuse misused the same system to track two people, prosecutors alleged
Milwaukee Police Department Internal Affairs Detective Tehrangi Chapman, who had been assigned to investigate officer Josue Ayala for misusing the department's Flock automated license-plate-reader system, was himself charged on July 9, 2026, with felony misconduct in public office and misdemeanor misuse of a GPS device. Prosecutors allege Chapman ran unauthorized Flock searches on two individuals roughly 17 to 20 times between January 2024 and January 2025, logging the searches as "training" or "test," and secretly installed a physical GPS tracker on one victim's car without a warrant or consent. Chapman, a 22-year MPD veteran who was suspended with pay in March 2026, admitted in charging documents to using the database and tracker for personal reasons.
Wisconsin Elections Commission adopted guidance barring voters from voiding returned absentee ballots
On July 9, 2026, the Wisconsin Elections Commission adopted guidance for local clerks stating that voters cannot void a returned absentee ballot and request a new one — even if their chosen candidate has since dropped out of the race or weeks remain before Election Day. The guidance reversed the commission's prior legal position and was issued after ballots for the August 11 primary had already been mailed and multiple gubernatorial candidates had withdrawn. Three Dane County voters and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin separately sued to block the guidance within days of its publication.
2025 Events (2)
Menasha, Wisconsin officer Cristian Morales used department's Flock system to track ex-girlfriend's car
On October 9, 2025, Menasha, Wisconsin police officer Cristian Morales, 31, ran five Flock Safety license-plate-reader searches for his ex-girlfriend's vehicles while off duty and using his personal phone, logging the reason as a "welfare" check with no case number attached, after the two had broken up the previous month. Morales was arrested and charged with felony misconduct in office on January 7, 2026, after his ex-girlfriend reported her suspicions to Appleton police; he was placed on administrative leave, resigned from the department later that month, and was ultimately convicted and sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation.
Milwaukee police officer misused Flock license-plate database to track ex-partner and new partner about 179 times
Milwaukee Police Officer Josue Ayala used the department's Flock automated license-plate-reader system to track the locations of an ex-partner and that ex-partner's new partner roughly 179 times between March 26 and May 26, 2025, logging each search under a false "investigation" justification. The misuse surfaced after one victim searched her own plate on haveibeenflocked.com; a department audit and a criminal complaint filed February 24, 2026 confirmed the unauthorized searches and Ayala was charged with misdemeanor attempted misconduct in public office. Ayala resigned from MPD in March 2026 and pleaded guilty in June 2026.
2006 Events (2)
Wisconsin Legislature gave final passage to constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage
On February 28, 2006, the Wisconsin Assembly voted 62-31, with six members paired, to concur in 2005 Senate Joint Resolution 53, completing the second required legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The Wisconsin Senate had adopted the resolution 19-14 on December 6, 2005. The Assembly's concurrence sent the amendment to the November 2006 general election ballot, where voters approved it and it took effect.
Wisconsin Gov. Doyle approved law banning state funds for gender-affirming care for transgender prisoners and forensic patients
On January 6, 2006, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle approved 2005 Assembly Bill 184, published as 2005 Wisconsin Act 105, which created Wis. Stat. § 302.386(5m) barring the Department of Corrections from using state funds, state resources, or state-administered federal funds to provide or facilitate hormone therapy or sexual reassignment surgery for prisoners or forensic patients. The Assembly had passed the bill 82-15 and the Senate concurred in 2005 before Doyle's approval completed its enactment.