History

1846-1846 Peter V. Brown  
1846-1846 G.W. Brower  
1847-1848 David Lewis  
1849-1850 Whitman Sayles  
1851-1852 Mortimer Sayles  
1853-1854 Benjamin Ferguson  
1855-1856 Mortimer Sayles  
1857-1858 O.S. Phelps  
1859-1860 D.L. Townsend  
1861-1862 George W. Brower  
1863-1864 Columbus Germain  
1865-1866 William Parker  
1867-1868 Columbus Germain  
1869-1870 Charles E. Goodwin  
1871-1872 Henry Bertram  
1873-1874 John Leslie  
1875-1876 Charles End  
1877-1878 Jacob Bodden  
1879-1880 R.L. Rix  
1881-1882 John Becker  
1883-1884 James Davison  
1885-1886 P.B. Lamourex  
1887-1888 Adolph Fickert  
1889-1890 Bernard Hauser  
1891-1892 C.A. Hart  
1893-1894 Peter Peters  
1895-1896 Herman Binte  
1897-1898 Edmund J. Labuwi  
1899-1900 Michael Lehner  
1901-1902 James J. Solon  
1903-1904 Emil A. Roeseler  
1905-1906 Charles Lentz  
1907-1908 William F. Miller  
1909-1910 August Gramlow  
1911-1914 William Wolkman  
1915-1916 Joseph Hinkes  
1917-1918 Charles Hinkes  
1919-1920 William Kohl  
1921-1922 George F. Hall  
1923-1925 Ben C. Lange  
1925-1926 William F. Rhode  
1927-1928 Emil F. Nitschke  
1929-1930 Charles G. Kapelle  
1931-1934 Henry E. Lehman  
1935-1937 Walter E. Buschkopf  
1938-1942 Harold Hammer  
1943-1945 Edward C. Kiemann  
1946-1949 Avery Canniff  
1950-1953 H.H. Schwantes  
1954-1956 Edward C. Klemann  
1957-1960 Robert Schultz  
1961-1964 Orlie C. Uttech  
1965-1967 Robert Schultz  
1968-1976 Edwin E. Nehls  
1977-1986 Ted Meekma  
1987-1988 Edwin E. Nehls  
1989-2002 Stephen Fitzgerald  
2002-2002 Jerry White  
2003-2013 Todd Nehls  
2013-2014 Patricia Ninmann  
2015-Present Dale Schmidt  

In 1848, about two years after Peter V. Brown was elected as the first Sheriff of Dodge County, the courthouse was erected on the present site. The Sheriff's office, living quarters, the jail, and the stable were built immediately south and adjacent to the courthouse. 

According to existing records the next jail was built across the road to the west of the courthouse in 1890. It included the jail and the Sheriff's living quarters and was in use until February, 1969. This is the building which was torn down to make room for the new Law Enforcement and Detention Center. 

The new Law Enforcement and Detention Center is more than a jail. It houses the offices of the Sheriff, detectives, county police, a communications center, various offices, and more. The building was authorized by the Dodge County Board of Supervisors in January, 1976 at an expenditure of $1.2 million. The new detention center will be able to handle 56 prisoners, the old jail could only accommodate 28.

The Sheriff's Office acts as a primary law enforcer in all areas not specifically covered by their own peace officers. The Sheriff's Office acts in a supportive capacity in areas where there are not full time law enforcement.

The custody and management of the County Jail is still another aspect of the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. Its administration and operation is the function of the Sheriff and his subordinate deputies. 

The Dodge County Police originated in 1924 with a two-man force. They patrolled the highways on motorcycles, and were hired during the summer months only from April 15th to November 15th. The purpose for this patrol was to enforce motor vehicle traffic regulations. In 1929, the officers worked 12 months out of the year using their private cars during inclement weather. They patrolled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. After 1936, the county police discontinued using motorcycles due to the accidental deaths of three officers. 

 In 1938, the Dodge County Police equipped their cars with police radios, and 1949 was the beginning of 24 hour service, patrolling the county-owned squads. 

Direct responsibility for the administration of the jail is the responsibility of one Jail Sergeant who acts under the direction of the Sheriff and the Chief Deputy. A total of five hailers man the jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

One full time cook and one part time cook administer to the nutritional needs of the inmates. Menus and meal planning for the inmates are the responsibility of the Sheriff. To assure high standards of quality, the menus must be approved by the State Jail Inspector, the Sheriff, and the District Attorneys Committee. 

Effective January 1st, 1981, the Dodge County Police Department merged with the Sheriff's Office to form the Dodge County Sheriff's Office. For 56 years they had been a separate entity of Dodge County Law Enforcement, known as the Dodge County Motor Police. 

The agency grew from two officers, one small room for radio dispatchers and one room for traffic officers to a new building in 1959.