ANNUAL REPORT - INTRODUCTION - 2004: 

The Wood County Sheriff's Department consists of 79 full-time equivalent employees with 36 being civilians and 43 Sworn.  (See Command Charts at end of report) 

The Department also has 20 Reserve Deputies whose duties consist of working the Wood County Parks as well as special events. 

There is a Rescue Squad that is comprised of 25 volunteer members whose duties consist of responding to injury auto accidents, special response situations, search and rescue, water rescue, and many other situations that may come up.   The Wood County Sheriff's Department considers it fortunate to have such a wonderful volunteer organization to assist in critical situations.  The Rescue Squad is also a sponsor of a Boy Scout Explorer Post. 

The Wood County Sheriff's Department has a Jail with a capacity of 137 prisoners.  It was built in 1988 for $3,400,000.  Thirty-four people are assigned to the Wood County Jail, which is supervised by the Jail Lieutenant.  Due to overcrowding, the Jail housed Safekeepers (transported inmates) in Waupaca, Sauk, and Adams County Jails.  Housing costs totaled $571,170.71.

The Department has a Special Response Team (SRT). This is a highly trained and equipped unit, which responds to critical incidents and high-risk search warrants.  The group has been very successful in situations they have responded to.

The Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit utilizes a Belgian Malinois, whose name is Friday.  Deputy Ray Starks is the canine handler and together they do an excellent job.  Traffic Lt. David Laude supervises the unit. 

The Wood County Sheriff's Department has two full-time Drug Investigators.   This Department is currently a member in the Central Wisconsin Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Unit (MEG), which consists of the large cities and surrounding counties and was the lead agency in 2002 and 2003.

Wood County, Wisconsin is located in the center of the State.  It covers an 812 square mile area, has 1,503 miles of roads, and a population of 75,951.  There are four cities in the County:

                         Wis Rapids (County Seat).......18,376

                        Marshfield...............................18,443

                        Nekoosa..................................2,593

                        Pittsville.....................................882

The remaining population of 35,657 resides in the Towns and Villages.

The Wood County Board consists of the 38 Wood County Board Supervisors. The Committee System is used to transact the County's business.                     

The Wood County Sheriff's Department has an Oversight Committee called "Sheriff & Traffic" which consists of five Wood County Board Supervisors.