A criminal conduct investigation involving the Gillett Police Department is scheduled to be completed this week.
A Green Bay detective is completing his investigation into a report implicating Police Chief Jess Keplinger in an October domestic incident involving an ex-girlfriend. Both Keplinger and the ex-girlfriend deny the accusations.
Green Bay Detective Dave Steffens said he plans to meet with the Oconto County district attorney this week to review his findings. It will be up to the district attorney’s office to decide if charges will be filed.
Steffens would not disclose who might face charges or the nature of the charges.
“It’s an active investigation, and I have no comment on that so far,” he said.
Steffens said the Green Bay Police Department is investigating the report that a physical and/or verbal disturbance occurred between Keplinger and his girlfriend at Keplinger’s residence in Mountain.
The allegations were made to Gillett Police Sgt. Dennis Heise by a person who asked to remain anonymous. The Times Herald planned to meet with the anonymous source Tuesday, after the Times Herald deadline. Check online at www.octimesherald.come for the result of that meeting.
In the wake of the incident, Heise left the department with a separation/retirement agreement.
The 15-year GPD veteran said his relationship with Keplinger was “not a healthy one,” and after the chief’s hire in 2013, Heise no longer was interested in staying with the department.
Oconto County Sheriff Mike Jansen said he requested aid from the Green Bay Police Department in “an attempt to get everything out in this.”
The focus of the investigation is the possibility that a false report was filed, he said.
Green Bay Police Chief Tom Molitor contacted Jansen on Jan. 21, indicating Keplinger had requested mutual aid to investigate Heise’s report. According to Jansen, Keplinger lacks the authority to contract with a law enforcement agency outside the county, so Jansen used his authority to request mutual aid.
The city of Gillett also launched an investigation into the incident report in November.
A private consultant hired by the city interviewed the ex-girlfriend, who called the claims ridiculous and outrageous, according to the consultant’s report. When the Times Herald questioned the consultant about his findings, the consultant said he was hired to evaluate a personnel matter and was not authorized to speak about it.
Categories
