FAQs

What records can I request from the Sheriff's Office?

Any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which has been created by or is being kept by the Rock County Sheriff's Office (see Wis. Stat. § 19.32).

Incident Reports

Accident Reports

Traffic Citations/Municipal Citations

Court Reports

Body Camera and Squad Camera Video

Audio Files (*You must request dispatch calls from the 911 Communications Center)

When a record contains material with release restrictions and material that is not subject to release restrictions, the restricted material shall be redacted, and the unrestricted material released (Wis. Stat. § 19.36(6)).

The Custodian of Records shall determine if the requested record is available and, if so, whether the record is exempt from disclosure. Either the requested record or the reason for nondisclosure will be provided as soon as practicable and without delay (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)). If the request cannot be completed within 10 days from the initial date of request and unless unusual circumstances preclude doing so, the requestor shall be notified in writing of the delay.

How do I make a Public Records request?

Please visit the Rock County Sheriff's Office Public Records Portal, NextRequest, to make your request. Requests by mail, phone, fax, email or in person are also accepted, but will be entered into the portal for processing. Requesters may remain anonymous.

Who can initiate a Public Records request?

Anyone may initiate a request for public records.

How soon will the Sheriff's Office respond to my request?

The Custodian of Records shall determine if the requested record is available and, if so, whether the record is exempt from disclosure. Either the requested record or the reason for nondisclosure will be provided as soon as practicable and without delay (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)).

If the request cannot be completed within 10 days from the initial date of request and unless unusual circumstances preclude doing so, the requestor shall be notified in writing of the delay.

At this time, there is an increased delay for some requested digital evidence including body worn camera and dash camera footage due to specialized staffing limitations (30-45 days).

Will I be notified if my request is denied?

Yes. If a written request is denied in whole or in part, the requester shall receive a written statement of the reasons for denying the request. The denial shall inform the requester that the written request for the record release determination is subject to review by a court or upon application to the Attorney General or a District Attorney (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(b)).

How much will I be charged for my request?

Most records are sent electronically, at no cost. However, there are charges for accident reports, location services exceeding $50, and physical media storage. Please see our fee schedule for details.

For large requests, the Sheriff's Office may:

  • Provide records in installments
  • Require advance payment before providing further installments.

What records are exempt from disclosure?

The Wisconsin Public Records Law provides that a number of records are restricted from public inspection. In addition, there are other statutes not listed in Chapter 19 which may exempt or prohibit disclosure of certain information.

Examples of release restrictions include:

  • Personal identifying information, including an individual’s photograph; Social Security and driver identification numbers; name, address and telephone number; and medical or disability information that is contained in any driver license record, motor vehicle record or any office record, including traffic crash reports, are restricted except as authorized by the Office, and only when such use or disclosure is permitted or required by law to carry out a legitimate law enforcement purpose (18 USC § 2721; 18 USC§ 2722; Wis. Stat. § 19.36(10)).
  • Any record containing personally identifiable information that is collected or maintained in connection with a complaint, investigation, or other circumstance and that may lead to an enforcement action, administrative proceeding, arbitration proceeding or court proceeding. This includes any record that is collected or maintained in connection with such an action or proceeding (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(am)).
  • Any record containing personally identifiable information that, if disclosed, could result in (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(am)): |Endangering an individual's life or safety | Identifying a confidential informant (Wis. Stat. § 19.36(8)). | or |Endangering security, including that of the staff or population of a detention facility. |
  • Any record with the home, school or work address of a participant in the Wisconsin Department of Justice Address Confidentiality Program (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(am)2m).
  • Crime victim and witness information (Wis. Stat. § 950.04).
  • Juvenile-related information (Wis. Stat. § 938.396; Wis. Stat. § 48.78; Wis. Stat. §48.396; Wis. Stat. § 938.78).
  • Search warrants until they have been executed (Wis. Stat. § 968.21).
  • Patient health care records (Wis. Stat. § 146.82).
  • Records where the government’s interest in nondisclosure outweighs the public’s interest in disclosure.

How long is the Sheriff's Office required to keep records?

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.21​, with some specific exceptions, local units of government must maintain all public records for a minimum of seven years, unless a shorter retention period has been approved by the PRB. Records Disposition Authorizations (RDAs) are reviewed and approved on a quarterly basis by the PRB. RDAs are the mechanism for requesting PRB approval.  

Rock Co. Ordinance 2.307: (1) For the purpose of gaining needed space, obsolete county records may be destroyed and their destruction is authorized. No county record may be destroyed unless it is authorized by state statute and this section. Nothing herein shall be construed to supersede state statutes. This section is authorized by sec. 19.21 (5), Wis. Stats. The governing committee of each office or agency, in consultation with the Department Head, shall have supervisory authority over the destruction of the agency's or office's records. Prior to the destruction of any county records, the records shall be offered to the State Historical Society under secs. 59.716 - 59.717, Wis. Stats. Records listed in sec. 59.715, Wis. Stats. may be destroyed pursuant to that section after the period of time set forth in that section. (2) The records listed below may be maintained and destroyed as indicated on the schedule. If an agency, department, or office of Rock County wishes to destroy obsolete records which are not listed below, the agency or office shall first obtain permission to destroy the records from the agency's governing committee. 

All audio tapes of telephone and radio communications created by the Rock County Sheriff's Department and/or the Rock County Communications Center shall be maintained for a minimum of 120 days from the date of creation, after which the same may be erased or other disposition made, subject to any obligation to offer the same to the State of Wisconsin Historical Society and any other rules or laws which may be applicable, any existing provisions of Section 22.08 of the Rock County Ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 

Rock Co. Ordinances - Chapter 2

Who is the Sheriff's Office Custodian of Records?

Captain Mark Thompson

Email: mark.thompson@co.rock.wi.us

Phone: 608-757-7944

Who should I contact if I have questions about my request?

Sergeant Shena Kohler

Records Supervisor

Email: shena.kohler@co.rock.wi.us

Phone: 608-373-3879