Opinion bars tribal police officer from serving on county board

Thursday, May 2, 2013  

A tribal police officer who has been cross-deputized may not hold office on a county board of supervisors in Wisconsin, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a legal opinion.

The officer is employed by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community and the tribe pays his salary. But since he acts as a county officer under a law enforcement agreement with Shawano County, the Wisconsin Constitution bars him from holding elected office in the county, the opinion stated.

"I conclude that the office of county supervisor is incompatible with the office of active duty deputy sheriff, even if the deputy sheriff is not paid by the county," Van Hollen wrote in the opinion dated April 30.

Get the Story:
Tribal officers can't sit on County Board (The Shawano Leader 5/1)

Wisconsin Attorney General Documents:
Opinion | Request for Opinion