At the September 3, 2026 meeting of the Monroe County Ethics Board the Board formally declined
action on eight out of nine complaints filed on Sheriff’s Office personnel; Sheriff Revels, Chief Deputy
Weaver, Lieutenant Hallman and Sergeant Corcoran.
The cost of reviewing and disposing of the complaints will cost Monroe County taxpayers an
estimated $30,000 in outside attorney fees and many more hours in lost staff time. Monroe County
Corporation Counsel brought a budget adjustment to the Administration and Personnel Committee on
September 8, 2026, which was necessary to cover the estimated costs. This $30,000 will be
removed from the County’s contingency fund.
The Board received the following complaints:
July 8, 2026; Supplemented on July 29, 2026 – Chad Brownell v. Sergeant Rylan Corcoran
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statute 19.59 or
Monroe County Ethics Code’ Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over complaints about the Hatch Act;
Political Speech by a private citizen is protected speech; no privileged information was disclosed; and
contents of declaratory judgement complaint are not privileged information, it is a matter of public
record.”
July 8, 2026 – Chad Borwnell v. Chief Deputy Christopher Weaver
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statute 19.59 or
Monroe County Ethics Code; Wisconsin Statute 19.45 does not apply to non-state public officials;
Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over the Hatch Act; and no privileged information was disclosed.”
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
112 S. Court Street, Rm. 500
Sparta, Wisconsin 54656
Phone (608) 269-2117
Fax (608) 269-8889
July 17, 2026 – Michael Krause v. Patrol Sergeant Rylan Corcoran
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statutes 19.59,
19.41, or Monroe County Ethics Code; speech was made in his own person capacity on private
Facebook page; and Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over complaints about the Hatch Act.”
July 17, 2026 – Michael Krause v. Assistant Jail Administrator Ryan Hallman
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statutes 19.59,
19.41, or Monroe County Ethics Code; Hallman was engaged in scope of employment and operating
at the lawful order of the Sheriff; Hallman did not gain any financial interest in making report; and
Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over complaints about the Hatch Act, Grievance Process, or Human
Resource matters.”
July 17, 2026 – Michael Krause v. Sheriff Wesley Revels
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statutes 19.59,
19.41, or Monroe County Ethics Code; Sheriff authorized the investigation pursuant to his authority
and position; directed competent staff to conduct investigation; Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over
complaints about the Hatch Act, Grievance Process, or Human Resource matters; an no privileged
information was disclosed.”
July 17, 2026 – Michael Krause v. Chief Deputy Chris Weaver
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statutes 19.59,
19.41, or Monroe County Ethics Code; Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over complaints about the
Hatch Act, Grievance Policy or Human Resource matters; an no privileged information was
disclosed.”
August 18, 2026 – Michael Krause v. Chief Deputy Chris Weaver
5-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reason: “the Complaint was insufficient, as it does not
allege specific Ethic Code violations.”
August 21, 2026 – Chad R. Brownell v. Chief Deputy Christopher Weaver
4-0 vote in favor of dismissal for the following reasons: “no violations of Wisconsin Statute 19.59 or
Monroe County Ethics Code; Wisconsin Statute 19.45 does not apply to non-state public officials;
Ethics Board has no jurisdiction over complaints about the Monroe County Personnel Policy Manual,
HR matters, or Wis. Stat. 59.27(13). Chief Deputy Weaver followed the County process and is in
compliance. No conflict of interest exists.”
The Board decided to collect further information before acting on one of the complaints:
July 31, 2026; Supplemented August, 5, 2026 – Terri Harrison v. Chief Deputy Christopher Weaver
The Ethics Board is seeking additional information before resolving this complaint.
An additional complaint was filed with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which was closed without
any action.
August 7, 2026 – File Closed Letter Office of Special Counsel Hatch Act Complaint
The US Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel disposed of a complaint filed with their office
on Chief Deputy Weaver stating, “This letter addresses complaints the U.S. Office of Special Counsel
(OSC) received alleging that during your 2026 candidacy for Monroe County Sheriff, you, as Chief
Deputy of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), violated the Hatch Act by having MCSO staff
participate in your campaign parade and by using your official position to influence the election
through social medial comments referencing you access to nonpublic information about your
opponent. As explained below, OSC concluded that you were not covered by the Hatch Act at the
time of the alleged activity and is closing its file in this matter.”