Winnebago County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office

Hey Sky! Are you enjoying your training today? Looks like a great change of scenery.

Did you hear the sounds of freedom this morning?

You may have noticed some "thunder" in the sky. Volk Field offers 30,000 cubic miles of airspace, which is why people from all over the globe choose to train here. This training is crucial to the success of our military units. As a reminder, during Northern Lightning, there will be increased flying activity in the highlighted area over the next few weeks.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 🇺🇸

Come on out and see our Deputies at the Oshkosh Westowne Av. location -- and there may be a surprise visit or two from one of our K9 Teams!

Send a message to learn more

Deputy Cosgrove and Deputy Ott graduated today from the rigorous 720 hour Law Enforcement Recruit Academy. Congratulations Deputies! We can’t wait to see the amazing things you will do next!

Happening all August! Find a collection box in our lobby for the Arresting Hunger campaign. We are doing our part to help those in our community with food insecurity.

Thanks for the help!

Happy 25th work-aversary! Dispatcher Heidi has been answering 911 calls in Winnebago County for every one of those 25 years ! Congrats Heidi on 25!

A few more pix from the Deputies out at EAA - The Spirit of Aviation where our ATVs are king (sorry, no planes for us 😅)!

Ahhhh EAA - The Spirit of Aviation …..always a nice break in the regular patrol duties for our deputies.

We hope everyone is having a great time!

Always a good day for Even the 911 Comm Center has a nice view.

Effective 07/23/24 3:00pm all Emergency Slow No Wake orders have been rescinded for Winnebago County.

Send a message to learn more

STH 91 is closed at Elo/Bradley Rd for a traffic crash. While there are no life-threatening injuries, scene cleanup will take some time. Please plan an alternate route.

*Notice*

This Saturday, July 27, outdoor warning siren testing will not take place due to EAA - The Spirit of Aviation AirVenture Oshkosh. If outdoor warning sirens sound, it is for an actual severe weather incident.

Do you know my humans? I was found near Walter St and Snell Rd. I am super friendly and was loving this nice deputy and the fun squad car ride ….I’m not so much loving the Neenah Animal Shelter, but I’m safe here in this nice new building.

On 07/22/24 at 12:15 pm, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office along with the City of Oshkosh Fire Department, Nekimi Fire Department and First Responders, Van Dyne Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and members of the NTSB responded to a farm field in the area of Old Knapp Rd and Nekimi Av in the Town of Nekimi for a plane crash. This area is about two miles south of the EAA Airventure event and was first reported by ATC in the Wittman Airport tower.

Upon arrival, responders discovered that the plane was fully engulfed in fire.

At this time, we can confirm that there were two occupants in the plane, and that they are both deceased.

The names of the deceased occupants and all other plane identifiers are being withheld at this time pending notification to the family.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by NTSB.

We were further assisted by the County Coroner's Office, Winnebago County Emergency Management, and ThedaStar.

Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased occupants.

Send a message to learn more

These Junior Deputies clocked 15mph at the races at Deerfest. So stinkin’ cute!

Wishing the best of success to Neenah native Maddie Wanamaker (Rowing – Women's Eight 8+) and Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton (Basketball 5X5 Men) during their time at the 2024 Paris Olympics!

Go Team USA!

Welcome visitors! We have found that general roundabout education can be helpful for everyone...ahem, that includes some locals as well.

Steps for driving a roundabout straight from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
1. Slow down. Obey traffic signs.
2. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Yield to traffic on your left already in the roundabout.
4. Enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in traffic.
5. Keep your speed low within the roundabout.
6. As you approach your exit, turn on your right turn signal.
7. Yield to pedestrians and bicycles as you exit.

WisDOT Roundabout Educational Video: Take it Slow. How to navigate a multi-lane roundabout This is the Wisconsin Department of Transportation educational video for navigating a multi-lane roundabout. WisDOT took a different approach to roundabout p...

Welcome to EAA - The Spirit of Aviation friends!

For up to date road traffic information including camera/video feeds, please bookmark the following link:

511WI Provides up to the minute traffic information for Wisconsin. View the real time traffic map with travel times, traffic accident details, traffic cameras and other road conditions. Plan your trip and get the fastest route taking into account current traffic conditions.

**UPDATED 07/23/24 at 3:00PM. ALL Emergency Slow - No - Wake orders have been rescinded for Winnebago County. **

*****************************************************

**UPDATED July 19, 2024 9:00am. The Emergency SNW has been rescinded for Zone 1 only. Zone 2 remains in effect**

**UPDATED 07/23/24 at 3:00PM. ALL Emergency Slow - No - Wake orders have been rescinded for Winnebago County. **

**************************************************

**UPDATED July 19, 2024 9:00am. The Emergency SNW has been rescinded for Zone 1 only. Zone 2 remains in effect**

**UPDATED July 9, 2024 12:30 pm ** This has been updated to also include ZONE 2 -- Little Lake Butte des Morts AND the Fox River from the mouth of the Fox River in Menasha and Neenah to the north county line. **

July 4, 2024 11:06 am

Pursuant to Winnebago County Ordinance 9.41, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office has declared a Flood Emergency for Zone 1 (ZONE 1 --- The Wolf River from the mouth of Lake Poygan to the north county line, and the Rat River). This declaration imposes a SLOW-NO-WAKE zone within 500 feet of any permanent structure for the navigable waters listed. This emergency declaration will remain in effect until further notice, when the water recedes to a non-threatening level.

The Winnebago County - Emergency Slow No Wake line is the official delivery device. Please call 920-236-7488 to find out the current status of any Emergency Slow No Wake declarations for Winnebago County.　

It is strongly encouraged that boaters check the status frequently during periods of high water, as the updates may change.
This declaration applies only to conditions arising out of a Flood Emergency.
Local ordinances, DNR Regulations, and Coast Guard maritime rules remain in effect. Please check those sources for additional applicable rules and regulations.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate this series of events. If you have any information, please contact Detective Jim Megna 920-236-7326

COLD CASE UPDATE

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office has developed probable cause resolving the 1963 Homicide of Wayne Pratt. Sheriff's Detectives, working with multiple specialized DNA companies and laboratories, have identified a suspect in this more than half-century-old cold case.

On June 12, 1963, Wayne Pratt was killed at the former Enco Station along old U.S. 41 in Winnebago County. His wife, Marie Pratt told authorities in 1963 that Wayne had been watching television at home when a car pulled up to the station around 8:40pm. The Pratt's lived in a small house roughly 50 feet from the station and Wayne had walked over to help the customer. About 15 minutes later, Marie noticed the lights had not been turned on at the station. Marie walked over to the station and found Wayne, deceased on the floor of the back room of the station, covered in a blanket, the victim of 53 stab wounds. Evidence located at the scene suggested the perpetrator was bleeding after the attack as well.

Numerous leads and dozens of interviews were followed up on in the 1960's in an effort to find the killer. No arrests were made and there was limited information on the case after 1968.

The investigation went cold.

In 2011 the case was formally re-opened and evaluated for potential DNA evidence. Multiple items of evidence were sent to different laboratories for analysis. In 2015, Sorenson Forensics identified DNA mixtures on the blanket that had been used to cover Wayne Pratt. While we considered this progress in the case, DNA mixtures can't be entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to search for suspects, and we again were at an impasse.

In 2018 a warrant was signed to obtain a DNA standard from William A. Doxtator, of Bowler, WI. William Doxtator was identified as a suspect in this case just days after Wayne Pratt had been found murdered. Besides the initial investigation into Doxtator, the Sheriff's Office had received tips on William Doxtator in 1968 and 2009. New information had been developed on Doxtator in 2017, during the re-opened investigation. Doxtator, who was 82 years old in 2018, was not the only suspect to provide a DNA standard for this case.
In 2023, Sorenson Forensics conducted updated DNA testing and again, identified DNA mixtures. In 2024, Cybergenetics used the latest technology for solving degraded DNA and complex mixtures. Their TrueAllele® data analysis determined that William Doxtator's DNA was statistically present on the blanket that had been used to cover Wayne Pratt. This DNA evidence, together with information from original reports and living witness statements, strongly supported the Sheriff's Office conclusion to refer a count of First-degree Intentional Homicide to the Winnebago County District Attorney's Office.

William Doxtator passed away in 2022.

The Winnebago County District Attorney Eric Sparr reviewed the referral and provided the following: "The Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the reports generated by this investigation. I agree there would be sufficient evidence to support a factual basis and probable cause to pursue a homicide charge if William Doxtator were alive today. The District Attorney’s Office commends the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office for its ongoing investment in this case over a long period of time, showing dedication to securing some sense of finality and resolution for the families impacted."

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Sorenson Forensics (Utah), and Cybergenetics (Pennsylvania) for their work on the DNA evidence in this case. An additional thank you to the late Andy Thompson, long time reporter at The (Appleton) Post Crescent for his contributions and assistance with this case. His dedication was invaluable.

Today we joined several other law-enforcement agencies for the Ride with the Lights fundraiser for the annual gift card program for those in need. Police Lights Of Christmas Q90FM Radio

Scammers abound today !! Today’s versions is that you missed jury duty, and that you need to make a payment to avoid arrest. Some people are even reporting the use the name of Lt Jesse Jensen; and the spam caller has a deep southern accent.

This is most assuredly NOT our *actual Lt. Jesse Jensen.

We would never demand immediate payment over the phone like this.

Thanks to the many astute citizens who have called today to alert us to this scam.

**UPDATED July 19, 2024 9:00am. The Emergency SNW has been rescinded for Zone 1 only. Zone 2 remains in effect**

**UPDATED July 9, 2024 12:30 pm ** This has been updated to also include ZONE 2 -- Little Lake Butte des Morts AND the Fox River from the mouth of the Fox River in Menasha and Neenah to the north county line.

Both Zone 1 and Zone 2 have a Flood Emergency declared

**UPDATED 07/23/24 at 3:00PM. ALL Emergency Slow - No - Wake orders have been rescinded for Winnebago County. **

**************************************************

**UPDATED July 19, 2024 9:00am. The Emergency SNW has been rescinded for Zone 1 only. Zone 2 remains in effect**

**UPDATED July 9, 2024 12:30 pm ** This has been updated to also include ZONE 2 -- Little Lake Butte des Morts AND the Fox River from the mouth of the Fox River in Menasha and Neenah to the north county line. **

July 4, 2024 11:06 am

Pursuant to Winnebago County Ordinance 9.41, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office has declared a Flood Emergency for Zone 1 (ZONE 1 --- The Wolf River from the mouth of Lake Poygan to the north county line, and the Rat River). This declaration imposes a SLOW-NO-WAKE zone within 500 feet of any permanent structure for the navigable waters listed. This emergency declaration will remain in effect until further notice, when the water recedes to a non-threatening level.

The Winnebago County - Emergency Slow No Wake line is the official delivery device. Please call 920-236-7488 to find out the current status of any Emergency Slow No Wake declarations for Winnebago County.　

It is strongly encouraged that boaters check the status frequently during periods of high water, as the updates may change.
This declaration applies only to conditions arising out of a Flood Emergency.
Local ordinances, DNR Regulations, and Coast Guard maritime rules remain in effect. Please check those sources for additional applicable rules and regulations.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office has been made aware of multiple frauds involving Facebook Marketplace advertisements targeting individuals looking for rental properties in our area. Please remember, never send funds via electronic payment to individuals you do not know or who you have not vetted as legitimate landlords of a property. For more information on current scams please visit www.fraud.org . This is a helpful site which will explain current and ongoing scams and allows community members to be alerted when there are new forms of fraud occurring.

Calling all Winnebago-land residents! Have you ever wondered what it is we do here (it's not like on TV) --- or --- have you seen photos from our prior annual Citizen's Academy Classes and thought to yourself "Wowza that looks ahhh-maaazzzz-innngg!" --- or --- have you ever thought to yourself, "Boy, I sure have a lot of law enforcement-ish questions, I wonder who I can ask?". Or, have you heard about the STAR program and wondered how it's done?
That answer is US!! We are now taking applications for our Annual Citizen's Academy, which will begin in August.

This year the Academy will run on Wednesday evenings 6pm-9pm from from Aug. 28-Nov. 20.

See the attached link for the application form. While the drop-dead application deadline is Friday, August 16, applications are considered on a first come-first served basis... so act fast if you are interested!
https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/citizens_academy_current_application.pdf

Usually, we can’t catch cats on the lamb (they are fast!) but this one was sitting right in the middle of the road near STH 76 and CTH GG…heading to The Neenah Animal Shelter

**UPDATED 07/23/24 at 3:00PM. ALL Emergency Slow - No - Wake orders have been rescinded for Winnebago County. **

**************************************************

**UPDATED July 19, 2024 9:00am. The Emergency SNW has been rescinded for Zone 1 only. Zone 2 remains in effect**

**UPDATED July 9, 2024 12:30 pm ** This has been updated to also include ZONE 2 -- Little Lake Butte des Morts AND the Fox River from the mouth of the Fox River in Menasha and Neenah to the north county line. **

July 4, 2024 11:06 am

Pursuant to Winnebago County Ordinance 9.41, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office has declared a Flood Emergency for Zone 1 (ZONE 1 --- The Wolf River from the mouth of Lake Poygan to the north county line, and the Rat River). This declaration imposes a SLOW-NO-WAKE zone within 500 feet of any permanent structure for the navigable waters listed. This emergency declaration will remain in effect until further notice, when the water recedes to a non-threatening level.

The Winnebago County - Emergency Slow No Wake line is the official delivery device. Please call 920-236-7488 to find out the current status of any Emergency Slow No Wake declarations for Winnebago County.　

It is strongly encouraged that boaters check the status frequently during periods of high water, as the updates may change.
This declaration applies only to conditions arising out of a Flood Emergency.
Local ordinances, DNR Regulations, and Coast Guard maritime rules remain in effect. Please check those sources for additional applicable rules and regulations.

Thanks to everyone who came out this year to hear the Sheriff’s annual reading of the Declaration of Independence from the historic Winnebago County Courthouse steps. Have a great rest of your Independence Day holiday, and make good choices.