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Is it time to investigate each and every department and affiliated agency in Eau Claire County dating back to the early 2000's?

Eau Claire County residence will never get the truth unless the DOJ in Washington D.C opens a public corruption and federal funding fraud probe.

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Below is a small timeline of events involving public corruption and notable headlines in Eau Claire County:

 

 

CITY ATTRACTS DRUGS

Chicago Tribune

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-08-19-9608190131-story.html

 

 

Eau County Human Services Rape Coverup: ( Eau Claire County went out of there way to coverup the brutal rapes of Tina Marie Hayden. Eau Claire County allowed her perpetrator to be her caretaker without any background checks or listening to the Hayden family concerns.

Sept 23rd, 2004

One Big Coverup - The Tina Marie Hayden Story

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Sheriff's department losing three supervisors: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on interdepartmental funding fraud on April 23, 2009)
"That was a hands-off factor for us because of Ed's work with the judges and district attorney's office."
Dec 25, 2009
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/local-briefs/sheriffs-department-losing-three-supervisors/
article_8f849b35-d4fb-5f61-bca2-c9e9973280c9.html


Raise request poorly timed:
Feb 14, 2010
https://www.leadertelegram.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/raise-request-poorly-timed/
article_3c8a3c43-0da4-5f43-acf6-b881fa681711.html


Judge apologizes for ‘offensive’ remarks; Lenz cited Auschwitz as example of efficiency: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes & judicial mis-conduct in 2009)
November 1, 2014
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/judge-apologizes-for-offensive-remarks-lenz-cited-auschwitz-as-example-of-efficiency/
article_294be8ad-e439-54cc-967a-befa723a1f7f.html


Stillwater names new city administrator (Tom McCarty, administrator of Eau Claire County):
December 19, 2014
https://www.twincities.com/2014/12/19/stillwater-names-new-city-administrator/


Former EC treasurer, deputy treasurer charged with stealing from county: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes in 2009)
May 18, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/daily-updates/former-ec-treasurer-deputy-treasurer-charged-with-
stealing-from-county/article_fd3a8f53-ce2b-5b48-8e8e-d47afed9f914.html


Eau Claire makes statement on charges against former treasurer:
May 19, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/daily-updates/eau-claire-makes-statement-on-charges-against-former-treasurer/
article_1865d8a2-1a9a-53e5-8c5f-7dc5296fe362.html


Upset, disgusted, angry’: Eau Claire County leaders react to charges against former treasurer: 
"In fall 2004, Lokken and Sheriff Ron Cramer called for Wilkie’s dismissal as Finance and Budget Committee chairman"
May 19, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/upset-disgusted-angry-eau-claire-
county-leaders-react-to-charges-against-former-treasurer/
article_f7500d52-b510-54ab-9d3a-9db8e9b83e29.html


County officials voice outrage at allegations against ex-treasurer:
"Almost all county departments handle some money, and in every department at least a couple of employees are involved with transactions involving money".
May 20, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/county-officials-voice-outrage-at-allegations-against-ex-treasurer/
article_029f6eb4-89a0-526d-84dd-e716dce471b8.html


Eau Claire County's new financial safeguards no magic bullet against collusion: (Whistle-blower conversation with Scott Rasmussen on funding fraud and interdepartmental collusion)
"New checks and balances are being used for monetary transactions for all Eau Claire 
County departments, but those still may not prevent inappropriate collusion among 
employees, the county’s finance director (Scott Rasmussen) said Thursday".
Jun 12, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/eau-claire-countys-new-financial-safeguards-no-magic-bullet-against-collusion/
article_b931676e-cbac-51a8-a840-4b7e35382171.html


Ultimate Betrayal: Sex, coercion, lavish personal spending, gambling revealed 
in police records of probe into nearly $1.4M in theft of Eau Claire County taxpayer funds: 

(Note the 2009 dip in the article graph)
November 22, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/ultimate-betrayal-sex-coercion-lavish-
personal-spending-gambling-revealed-in-police-records-of-probe-into/
article_f86f8b8e-c7c5-58ad-bfa7-d39956d53a95.html


Changes in Eau Claire County procedures designed to prevent future embezzlement:
November 22, 2015
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/changes-in-eau-claire-county-procedures-designed-to-prevent-future-embezzlement/
article_5315ff34-b8bf-5ab2-bbad-505185446c24.html


Red flags not waved in $1.4M embezzlement from Eau Claire County: (The Collusion)

Was Mr. Lokken provided protection and cover from the Sheriffs Department due to his willingness to float loans with taxpayer funds? 
Dec 13, 2015 
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/red-flags-not-waved-in-1-4m-embezzlement-from-eau-claire-county/
article_b0215835-0de9-52e5-909a-a6e401425a8f.html


Lokken silent at sentencing:
“I understand his right to remain silent,” Theisen said. “But I guess I’m left feeling that I don’t know the whole story.” (What would the Sheriff know about the silence?)
Jan 22, 2016
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/lokken-silent-at-sentencing/
article_668e4ff8-8630-5d1e-84ec-32c423589a78.html


Lawyer: Client was victim as well as perpetrator: (The Collusion, blackmail, harassment, intimidation)
"Onarheim, who is expected to testify at her sentencing hearing, told police the early-morning trysts in a safe and in a back office 
were part of a pattern of harassment and intimidation by Lokken that included threatening to fire her, kill her, kill her dog and shoot her children".
Feb 28, 2016
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/lawyer-client-was-victim-as-well-as-perpetrator/
article_791cd094-439d-5be9-9be2-e8690228cd5d.html


EC County supervisors grill staff on oversight: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes in 2009)
Mar 16, 2016
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/ec-county-supervisors-grill-staff-on-oversight/
article_f38f1629-a664-56a5-832b-9bc899a60496.html


Local group shows support for parents in family court. (Eau Claire county agency to agency fraud schemes) Eau Claire Police Department had knowledge of the fraud as early as February 2014 (Two years before TRY Mediation made an omission) The Eau Claire County Sherriff had knowledge as early as 2009 of case manipulation to create federal funding fraud with agency to agency collusion.

Oct 20, 2016

Article 

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Payroll duties may be split: (Inter-departmental collusion) 
Mar 6, 2017
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/payroll-duties-may-be-split/
article_ea6f466e-dd81-55ae-87a8-ac4d5a94a6db.html


Never again: After embezzlement scandal, Eau Claire County works to prevent financial theft: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes in 2009)
Mar 19, 2017
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/never-again-after-embezzlement-scandal-eau-claire-county-works-to-prevent-financial-theft/
article_10f60447-18c0-5d70-88da-d0004999853b.html


Eau Claire County Sheriff’s captain disciplined: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on interdepartmental financial crimes April 23, 2009)
April 25, 2017
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/eau-claire-county-sheriff-s-captain-disciplined/
article_176743ce-c56f-5b37-b216-60b719472878.html


Retired Altoona Police Officer sentenced in child sexual assult case:
October 27, 2017
https://www.weau.com/content/news/Retired-Altoona-Police-Officer-sentenced-in-
child-sexual-assult-case-453732333.html


Temporary finance department employee accused of stealing $20,000 from Eau Claire County:
Aug 30, 2018
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/daily-updates/temporary-finance-department-employee-accused-of-stealing-20-000-from-eau-claire-county/
article_a220a539-f648-57e2-ad18-903e4ccf857c.html


Charge: County employee got paid for false time card punches:
Sep 11, 2019
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/charge-county-employee-got-paid-for-false-time-card-punches/
article_e096a658-a2c7-514d-a9aa-7935a9cbb5cb.html


Sheriff opens fact-finding inquiry into DHS finances: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes and agency pattern and practice misconduct in 2009)
May 29, 2020
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/sheriff-opens-fact-finding-inquiry-into-dhs-finances/
article_23565268-7dff-55f1-a334-60bde30db227.html

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Eau Claire County named ‘high-intensity drug trafficking area” by the White House

June 4, 2020

https://www.wqow.com/news/local/eau-claire-county-named-high-intensity-drug-trafficking-area-by-the-white-house/article_c9fdf4ef-b28d-5ec6-b028-ad04d6d2d22a.html


Eau Claire County Department of Human Services under investigation: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes and agency pattern and practice misconduct in 2009)
Aug 13, 2020
https://www.weau.com/2020/08/13/eau-claire-county-department-of-human-services-under-investigation/

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DHS board approves new position: (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on inner-department financial crimes and agency pattern and practice misconduct in 2009). 

"The Eau Claire County sheriff, district attorney and treasurer support the resolution. A forensic audit analyzes an organization’s financial records to search for illegal activity".

Aug 17, 2020

https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/local/dhs-board-approves-new-position/

article_d21f8b0f-f3c0-52cd-872b-013960a3254a.html

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Investigation into Eau Claire Co. DHS continues

Oct 14, 2020 

https://www.weau.com/2020/10/15/investigation-into-eau-claire-co-dhs-continues/

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Eau Claire County Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice Task force

March 16, 2021

"Trust – Individuals indicated a high level of trust in their peers within their departments (81%) and for their direct supervisors (79%) but only a minority indicated trust in the County Administration (32%) and in the County board (21%)."

https://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=40321

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Eau Claire County DA Under Investigation

June 3, 2021

https://wqow.com/2021/06/03/digging-deeper-eau-claire-da-king-accused-of-sexual-harassment-being-intoxicated-in-the-workplace/

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Eau Claire County DA Resign - Governor Ever's Ends Investigation

July 13, 2021

On July 12, Evers' office announced he was dropping an investigation into King because of the forthcoming resignation.

https://wqow.com/2021/07/13/evers-taking-applications-for-next-eau-claire-county-da/

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Seven Eau Claire County Supervisors Won't Seek Reelection

January 5, 2022

Bates among seven county supervisors not running for reelection - Leader Telegram. (DOJ public corruption probe and or new witness statements in a 2014 officer-involved shooting cover up?)

https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/bates-among-seven-county-supervisors-not-running-for-reelection/article_2cb539c1-ba59-5838-a6b4-4980f0b0a1b7.html

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La Crosse County D.A. reviewing audit into Eau Claire County DHS; Answers expected in a few weeks

Feb 24, 2023

https://www.wqow.com/eye_on_eau_claire/la-crosse-county-d-a-reviewing-audit-into-eau-claire-county-dhs-answers-expected-in/article_b4b00fa6-b496-11ed-9e85-fbd3f974194a.html

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Eau Claire County Public Corruption Investigation News Report (1) Wayback Machine Archived

May 30, 2023

https://www.wqow.com/news/top-stories/digging-deeper-key-takeaways-from-the-dhs-investigation-report/article_b71b421c-ff3a-11ed-9b87-2b217647af10.html

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Eau Claire County Public Corruption Investigation News Report (2) Wayback Machine Archived

In the Red: Digging deeper into the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office investigation into the DHS

Jun 15, 2023 

https://www.wqow.com/news/digging-deeper/in-the-red-digging-deeper-into-the-eau-claire-county-sheriffs-office-investigation-into-the/article_bbf64884-0bc6-11ee-964b-0fd63443f262.html

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Eau Claire County DHS Sheriff's Investigation Report May 26th, 2023 ( (Eau Claire County whistle-blower came forward on interdepartmental funding fraud on April 23, 2009)

https://web.archive.org/web/20230825144506/https://www.familyseparation.co/_files/ugd/f2ce63_80e0a66001ed4b0bbab7ba0ac7553b32.pdf

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DHS Sheriff's Investigation Report  PDF

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Wayback Machine Internet Archived Site Links

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https://web.archive.org/web/20131225070800/http://www.childrenandfamilies.co/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160501052140/http://www.childrenandfamilies.co/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160702220143/http://www.childrenandfamilies.co/Eau_Claire_WI_Political_Intimidation.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20190131150639/https://www.familyseparation.co/
https://web.archive.org/web/20180818054310/https://www.familyseparation.co/family-separation

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