As we enter the new year, I thought I would use this article, as well as the next few, as a format to share some year-end statistics on the various components of the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department. I want to thank our partners in the local media for providing a platform through which we can share this information directly with those we serve.
I would like to begin by going over some numbers from the perspective of our dispatch center. The Kewaunee County Dispatch Center serves as the primary answering point for all 911 and other emergency calls throughout Kewaunee County. We also dispatch and page for all local fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies. We are unique in Kewaunee County in that we dual-role our staff as both dispatchers and jailers. In most other counties, there are dedicated jailers and dedicated dispatchers. Kewaunee County has financially benefited from this arrangement for years, and it is a testament to the quality of our staff that they are able to maintain a high level of effectiveness and proficiency in both areas.
In 2024, we received 20,211 calls into our dispatch center. This compares with 20,662 calls received the previous year. In addition, there were 3,616 emergency 911 calls received by our dispatchers, an increase from 3,424 the prior year.
As it relates to calls that resulted in the dispatching of resources throughout Kewaunee County, there were approximately 8,147 calls for service, which is slightly down from 8,270 the previous year. I would like to go over some of the most common calls we receive and provide some background on the nature of these calls.
The highest-frequency calls we receive are categorized as “rescue calls,” which accounted for 1,390 calls this past year, up from 1,331 the previous year. These calls range from citizens experiencing medical emergencies in their homes to patients at local clinics in need of transport due to a medical emergency. In each of these cases, our dispatchers play an important role in obtaining vital information about the patient and coordinating the appropriate response based on location and urgency.
While much less frequent, another category of emergency calls we receive involves requests for local fire department services. In 2025, we received 62 fire-related calls, down from 81 in 2024. While not as frequent as other calls, these incidents are typically very involved and require a great deal of coordination and communication. These calls also last significantly longer as responding agencies work together during the initial response and throughout the lengthy efforts to fully extinguish the fire and prevent future flare-ups.
The next most frequent category is 911 hang-ups, totaling 505 calls, down from 509 the previous year. These are often accidental misdials and require follow-up by our dispatchers or, in many cases, the dispatch of an officer to the call location. Thanks to Next Generation 911, we are able to determine the location of these calls if the caller is unable to provide it. If these calls are determined to be legitimate calls for service, their status is changed to reflect the nature of the incident. Thank you to our community for being more aware of your devices and taking steps to keep these calls to a minimum.
Following 911 hang-ups is the category of “citizen assist,” which accounted for 249 calls this past year, a slight decrease from 294 the previous year. These calls vary in nature but primarily involve assistance with civil matters where law enforcement is requested to be present during a volatile situation.
The next two categories had very similar numbers: “welfare checks,” with 298 calls, down from 306, and “suspicious activity,” with 258 calls, down from 273. These calls are similar in that the caller is concerned about the behavior or well-being of someone they know or the actions of someone they do not know and would like investigated. In either case, these are important calls and demonstrate that our community is engaged in the well-being and security of those around them.
Another category of calls we handled involved “animal problems,” with 334 calls, down from 363 the previous year. These unfortunate situations typically result from an actual or perceived lack of care or control by an animal owner. These types of calls can be reduced through attentive and responsible pet ownership.
“Traffic offenses” accounted for 321 calls this past year, down from 339 in 2024. These calls have increased over time with the widespread use of cell phones, allowing community members to serve as an extra set of eyes on the road. These calls are appreciated and send a clear message that we are holding each other accountable as motorists. We ask only that calls be made in a safe manner that does not jeopardize the caller’s safety or distract from their own driving.
I would like to thank the dedicated men and women who serve our community as public safety telecommunicators. These roles often go unnoticed and underappreciated, but they form the foundation of the public safety services we provide throughout the year.
If you would like to know more about the work done at the Kewaunee County Dispatch Center, please do not hesitate to contact our department. We can even arrange a tour.
