J.B. VAN HOLLEN
ATTORNEY GENERAL

Law Enforcement Roundtable Update

At the Department of Justice, we exist to assist you in our common mission to enhance public safety. I am a firm believer that local officials are in the best position to understand the needs of their communities. If the state is to assist, then state officials need to understand and appreciate the concerns of individual communities. That’s why I am holding Law Enforcement Roundtables in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. As of the date of this publication, I will have held roundtables in 36 counties.

I co-host each roundtable with one or more area legislators. Typically, the roundtables are held in the county seat and run for one and one half hours. Invitations are sent to law enforcement and community leaders, as well as judges and other officials.

The roundtables are an open forum. All topics relating to public safety are on the table for discussion. In visiting these counties and listening to what community leaders have to say, two things have been affirmed. First, each county shares significant concerns with other counties across the state. Second, each county has their own unique issues.

While I come to these roundtables to listen, listening is not the end of the process. I take back to the Department of Justice the concerns I hear at each roundtable. Issues raised are given to my staff for follow-up. Some of the follow-up can be done quickly, and participants will get phone calls from my staff trying to give assistance. Others, such as legislative ideas, are internally vetted and we follow up with lawmakers. As the legislative session begins again in January 2009, I hope that some of the concerns that have been raised will get considered and I can help your voice be heard in Madison.

I have enjoyed traveling around the state meeting many of you and I look forward to meeting those of you I have not met as I continue my roundtables around the state. At every roundtable, I ask that the meeting not be the end of the conversation, but the beginning. The only way that we can do our jobs better is if we hear from you. On the inside cover of each Law Enforcement Bulletin is a directory of Department of Justice personnel that may be able to help you address a specific concern or follow up on a suggestion as to how we in state government can help you achieve our mutual mission of a safer Wisconsin. Please keep in contact with us as we move forward.

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