Investigators Lock Down Rhinelander City Hall In Public Misconduct Case

Investigators locked down Rhinelander City Hall for much of the day Thursday as they executed search warrants in a months-long investigation into misconduct in office.

Officials from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department are investigating alleged misconduct by a public official and tampering with public records, both of which are felony offenses. At 9:25 a.m., officials from Oneida, Vilas and Marathon countty sheriff’s offices started a search for evidence. They seized paper and digital documents in the search, and were also assisted by the state Department of Justice’s digital forensics support unit.

Deputies didn’t make any arrests, and the investigation is ongoing. Oneida County Chief Deputy Dan Hess said investigators will complete the search on Thursday, and then will begin to sort through evidence they’ve collected to help them decide on charges.

“All the evidence has to be analyzed,” Hess said. “Upon completion of that, we will make a determination (on charges) with the district attorney’s office.”

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Hess said the investigation into a current city employee has been going on for months, and that Oneida County deputies have worked with others in the Price and Vilas county sheriff’s offices as well.

Hess declined to release further details on the public official involved or the nature of the public records tampering.

This is at least the third investigation into Rhinelander-based public officials this year. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reported in April that state investigators were looking into whether four Rhinelander City Council members and the mayor illegally plotted to force the council president to step down.

Also beginning in April, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation into then-county forestry director John Bilogan on allegations he used his office to pressure local landowners into selling to him, then directed the use of county equipment and prison labor to clear a private road on the property. The Sheriff’s Department recommended charges against Bilogan; that recommendation is in the hands of the Lincoln County District Attorney. Bilogan retired in September from his position with the county.