April 7, 2026 – Kewaskum, WI – There was a 1-hour closed door meeting by the Kewaskum Village Board on Monday, April 6, 2026. No action was taken after the meeting.
The Kewaskum Police Association/Wisconsin Professional Police Association Local #822 and Sgt Jeremy Haske have both released statements related to an ongoing investigation of Chief Tom Bishop, Lt. Bryan Frank and Sgt. Haske.
Statement from Sergeant Jeremy Haske
I am writing to address a statement included in the Village of Kewaskum’s recent press release regarding the disciplinary charges involving members of the Kewaskum Police Department.
Specifically, the Village asserted that my “application to the Kewaskum Police Department did not disclose the reason for the conclusion of [my] prior employment.” That statement is simply not true.
At the time of my application, I fully and accurately disclosed the circumstances surrounding my prior employment in accordance with the requirements of the hiring process. I cooperated with the background investigation and provided all information requested of me. Any suggestion that I was not forthcoming is incorrect and misrepresents the facts.
Given the seriousness of the allegations currently being discussed publicly, it is important that the information provided to the community is accurate. Statements like this not only affect my professional reputation, but also undermine public confidence in a fair and transparent process.
I remain committed to fully addressing these matters through the appropriate legal and administrative channels, and I am confident that a complete and objective review of the record will demonstrate that I acted honestly throughout the hiring process.
April 6, 2026 – Kewaskum, Wi — The Kewaskum Village Board has filed disciplinary charges against Police Chief Tom Bishop and a department lieutenant following an independent investigation into the hiring of Officer Jeremy Haske. The Village Board will meet in closed session Monday night, April 6, 2026, at 7 p.m. with items on the docket “Specifically, to be discussed is personnel.”
Village President Fuzz Martin said the issue first came to light nearly two months ago through anonymous tips.
“I have been leading this since the moment I received the information that we hired this officer (Jeremy Haske) who has had some grave allegations against him,” said Martin confirming the tip was through “some anonymous text message.”
Martin said additional anonymous emails followed, including threats to take the matter public.
Below is the statement released by the Village of Kewaskum. The statement was emailed from Milwaukee public relations firm Mueller Communications. There is no signature from any board member on the statement. Martin said, “probably because it was late on a Thursday night that nobody officially signed it. But I would have gladly signed it had it been physically in my hands.”
Statement from Kew Village Board Regarding Forthcoming Disciplinary Charges
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At the center of the investigation is the hiring of Officer Haske, who previously worked in Juneau County. Court records show no criminal charges against Haske, though civil and family court cases are on file.
Martin said the concern stems from findings tied to Haske’s prior termination, not a criminal conviction.
“He was not convicted, as I know. What I know is he was accused and terminated by Juneau County for this, and that termination was upheld on appeal,” Martin said.
Martin cited court-related findings that he said raised serious concerns about the hiring decision.
“The appellate court found credible evidence that he, (Haske) among other things, fabricated evidence and had sexual relations with a 17-year-old when he was 24 years old, including in a squad car,” Martin said, adding those findings were upheld through the appeals process.
“Did Juneau County Courts find credible evidence of that? Yes. Did they find that reason enough to terminate him from being an officer of the law? Yes,” Martin said.
Martin emphasized that, in his view, those findings should have disqualified Haske from being hired in Kewaskum.
“And does that mean that he should be an officer in the Village of Kewaskum? In my opinion, no,” he said.
While Chief Bishop reviews the candidates and looks into their background and work history, it is the Police and Fire Commission in Kewaskum that approves the hiring and firing.
Martin alleges the Police and Fire Commission may not have been given full background information before approving the hire.
“As far as I am aware, they did not have any information on Haske regarding his previous history and were not potentially intentionally made aware of his past,” he said. “I do not believe they received all of the information for agreeing to hire this individual.”
A message has been relayed to Bishop for his side of the story. A statement has been released from his attorney.
Questioned whether Chief Bishop was asked to resign. Martin said, he wouldn’t speak to that matter regarding this ongoing investigation. “I don’t want to cloud any… He’s going to have his ability to fight this with the PFC,” he said.
Kewaskum business owner Kevin Scheunemann spent 20 years on the Kewaskum Village Board including 7 years as Village President. Questioned about the issue regarding Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank he wrote:
“This report is a little overboard toward Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank. The officer applicant lied on his application. Yes, due diligence is great and we always think it’s a perfect process. It is not.
“The Police and Fire Commission should cut Chief Bishop and Lt. Frank a break on this. The department has always been under a lot of pressure to recruit because larger departments, like West Bend Police and Washington County Sheriffs Department constantly lure our officers away with more pay. Pay, the Kewaskum Village Board has been, for decades, unwilling to match, to retain officers. I was on Village Board for 20 years, 7 years as Village President and I deserve just as much blame for that recruiting pressure the Police Department Leadership is under to keep the Kewaskum Police Department staffed.
I urge the Police and Fire commission to help the Department Leadership streamline this process so there are less challenges of this type going forward. The Village Board should also reflect on the recruiting pressure we cause the Police Leadership with our current policies!” Kevin S
While the Police and Fire Commission typically handles hiring, Martin said the Village Board intervened due to the seriousness of the situation.
“As soon as the entire village board learned of this situation, we moved forward to get to the bottom of why we’ve hired another officer with these kinds of allegations,” he said.
The reference to “another officer” with similar allegations stems to a case in 2024 when Kewaskum Police Department School Resource Officer Steven Rosales, was sentenced on three Class H Felony counts of Bestiality. Rosales bestiality actions were only brought to light after he was alleged to have had inappropriate relations with a female student from Kewaskum High School.
Haske is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
“There have been no accusations against him regarding his actions in Kewaskum itself,” Martin said about Haske.
“Charges have been brought against Chief Bishop and Lieutenant Frank for their actions in hiring and deciding to take the word of this officer over the findings of the court,” Martin said.
Bishop, who has served approximately 18 years with the department, remains employed and has not been placed on administrative leave.
On Friday, April 3, 2026, Martin said the matter now moves to the Police and Fire Commission for a formal hearing.
“The next step is the Police and Fire Commission will have an impartial trial and hearing on this matter, and they will decide the fate of how this plays out,” Martin said.
On Saturday, April 4, 2026, an agenda was posted to the village website about a meeting Monday, April 6, 2026, at 7 p.m.
On a side note:
-The initial statement from the Village of Kewaskum was sent via email on 8:23 p.m. on April 2, 2026. While the letterhead carried the village logo, nobody from the village board signed the statement and the email did not come from the village.
-Martin said, “We do have a PR firm that works with our Village attorney on this matter and the Village insurance on this matter.”
-Calls were placed to Village Board members including former Kewaskum Police Chief Richard Knoebel. He returned the call but declined comment until after the closed meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026.
-Members on the police and fire commission are listed below.
-Below are names and contact number for the Kewaskum Village Board.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
