Door County Sheriff Department Professional Standards Captain Carl Waterstreet’s work to keep you and your children safe helped him earn recognition in the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday. Waterstreet was named the 2025 First Responder of the Year for the First Assembly District during a special ceremony held in Madison where he received the award from State Rep. Joel Kitchens. It was Waterstreet and his son Connor who worked with Kitchens on the Kelsey Smith Act, which requires wireless providers to turn over the device location information to law enforcement without a warrant. Pointing to his leadership on the issue, Kitchens said that “Wisconsin is a safer place because of Carl Waterstreet.” He was also honored for his dedication to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and recognized for his revival of the The Protect Kids Online (PKO) Podcast, which focuses on tips for combating online child exploitation, cyberbullying, and healthy online habits. 

Waterstreet, who previously served with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department before beginning his stint with the Door County Sheriff’s Department, was honored alongside other first responders from around the state during the ceremony where they celebrated October 14, 2025, as “First Responders Appreciation Day.”