June 17, 2026 – Kewaskum, Wi – The Kewaskum Village Board met in closed session for about 1 hour and 10 minutes on Wednesday evening to consider charges brought against administrator Adam Gitter by Police Chief Tom Bishop.
- Statement read by Village Trustee Mary Schlitt regarding Chief Bishop’s complaint against Village Administrator Adam Gitter.
- Trustee Dick Knoebel commented before voting and ultimately voted no.
Board Findings
- Employee handbook is not intended as a vehicle for employee complaints against coworkers or supervisors.
- Employee concerns should be addressed through the chain of command and proper administrative channels.
- The board expects such matters not to be aired through media or social media.
- The board reviewed:
- The complaint in its entirety.
- Relevant village ordinances and policies.
- Supporting facts, documentation, and context.
Allegation: Policy 4.7 (Dishonesty/Fraud)
- Complaint denied.
- Board found no factual or legal basis for the claim that Adam Gitter acted fraudulently.
Allegation: Failure to Comply with Records Request
- Complaint denied.
- Board found:
- The records request was submitted by Chief Bishop’s legal counsel on April 13, 2026.
- Gitter properly routed the request to village legal counsel, consistent with established procedures for requests connected to active legal proceedings.
- Village attorneys acknowledged receipt and assumed responsibility for responding.
- Gitter followed up with legal counsel multiple times regarding the status of the request.
- His actions demonstrated an intent to ensure compliance, not obstruct it.
- A response was made and records production is ongoing.
- Any delay is being managed by legal counsel due to active litigation.
- The delay does not constitute a violation of Wisconsin records law or village policy by Gitter.
Other Complaint Issues
- Board determined remaining issues were:
- Trivial, or
- Not actionable.
Board Statement
- The board emphasized that the community’s strength depends on village departments working together with:
- Mutual respect.
- Shared purpose.
- Called on employees, appointed officials, and commission members to move forward together for the benefit of Kewaskum residents.
Trustee Dick Knoebel’s Comments
- Stated he would vote no.
- Said he was unhappy with how the situation was handled from the beginning.
- Clarified his vote was not against Adam Gitter, whom he described as a great employee who does a lot of good work.
- Trustee Justin Weninger – Suggested the board, Chief Bishop, and Gitter should meet together to discuss:
- What happened.
- Current issues.
- How to move forward as a united community.
Vote
- Motion passed 5–2.
- Votes in favor: Weninger and four others including Mike Martin, Mary Schlitt, Jim Hovland, Jim Wright.
- Opposed: 2 no votes, including Trustee Knoebel and Wendy Muckerheide
Below is the initial complaint filed by Chief Bishop.
June 13, 2026 – Kewaskum, Wi – Just two days after the Kewaskum Police and Fire Commission met to determine the pending return of Officer Jeremy Haske after 107 days of paid administrative leave, comes two signed statements, including one from Police Chief Tom Bishop, who registered a formal complaint against Village administrator Adam Gitter.
Police Chief Tom Bishop sent an email at 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2026 to “Village Board Members – Please see the attached formal complaint filed on today’s date.” The four-page signed complaint is below.
Click the arrow in the lower left corner to advance the page.
Also included in the email was a 2-page signed “vote of no confidence” from the Kewaskum Professional Police Association WPPA Local 822.
Since February 2026, the Village of Kewaskum has been in the spotlight as the Village Board and president Michael ‘Fuzz’ Martin sought disciplinary action / dismissal against Chief Bishop and Lt. Bryan Frank regarding their part in the hiring of Officer Haske. The Village received an anonymous complaint regarding allegations made against Haske more than 15 years ago. Martin indicated Bishop and Frank failed to properly disclose questionable actions by Haske with a 17-year-old. The Police and Fire Commission eventually dismissed all charges. Click HERE for details.
After the initial PFC decision on Tuesday, several trustees hoped the Village would now return to some form of normalacy.
“This incident has caused a divide in Kewaskum’s residents,” wrote trustee and former Village Police Chief Richard Knoebel. “And it is my hope that we can come together and work towards the future and help to heal these feelings and keep Kewaskum a great place to live.”
Calls have been place to Village President Martin to see if/when the board would address the formal complaint.
The agenda for the June 15, 2026 Village Board meeting was emailed at 11:07 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026. The agenda does not have any action scheduled to address the Chief’s concern or the vote of no confidence by the WPPA.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
Below is a past article tied to Wednesday’s meeting of the Police and Fire Commission.
June 10, 2026 – Kewaskum, Wi – There is a meeting at 4 p.m. this afternoon of the Kewaskum Police and Fire Commission. According to the agenda, posted below, the discussion on the future of officer Jeremy Haske will be conducted in open session.
UPDATE: After 8 minutes of discussion the Police & Fire Commission recommended Haske be allowed to return to work.
In a one-on-one phone conversation Haske said about the decision, “Obviously I’m very pleased with the decisions the Police & Fire Commission have made and I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and providing a quality service to the Village of Kewaskum residents.”
A signed statement was then released at the Wednesday meeting from Village administrator Adam Gitter, “This letter serves as formal notice that your paid administrative leave is hereby concluded.”
It has been confirmed Haske will not be in attendance as he still is on paid administrative leave. According to the documents the paid leave also bans him from Village property.
This afternoon’s meeting is in the council chambers at Village Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
