Sheriff describes staff, shares summer cautions

At another installment of the monthly gathering “Straight Talk with Sheriff Jay Dulas” on Friday, May 2, there was a medium-sized crowd with a few extra filtering in during the event. Straight Talk is the first Friday of each month at the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce office on Waseca’s State Street; it starts at noon and lasts an hour.

Dulas started out by numbering his staff for Waseca County; he began with dispatchers, who receive phone calls and notify first responders where they are needed. Deputies communicate with fire departments, ambulance services, and peace officers including county deputies and Waseca, Waldorf and Janesville police where they are needed. 

“We have nine dispatchers for our county, and someone is always on duty,” Dulas described. Our most senior dispatcher has 28 on-the-job years of service. The newest dispatcher has three days on our force. ” Dulas said the dispatch officers takes up to 30,000 calls per year for Waseca County; he pointed out not all those calls are emergencies. Some are medical, some are simple questions, some are tips for crimes, some are accidental butt dials. Dulas took advantage of the opportunity to encourage anyone who is having a planned fire to call the non-emergency line to report it in advance; doing so, he pointed out, keeps time and resources from being wasted when they deploy only to discover the smoke is from a campfire or brush disposal. 

Dulas also mentioned that an update to software in the dispatch center now allows dispatchers to see the caller’s location on a map whenever a 911 call is made using a cell phone. Another new feature allows dispatchers to communicate with callers via text messaging. All these updates are in correlation with the downward trend in landline phone use.

Along with dispatchers, the sheriff’s office employs nine jailers who take responsibility for inmates, including making sure they receive meals and necessary medical treatment, and scheduling visitors, laundry or court appearances. Dulas said there is a typical population of about 10 people in the jail. 

Dulas went on to say his department has 15 licensed deputies who are responsible for patrolling county roads; the most recently hired deputy has had his license for a full month. Field training can take up to 16 weeks for new officers.

Dulas mentioned he wanted to call attention to differences for the sheriff’s jobs during winter as opposed to summer. “Some winters we’re spending all day just getting to people or helping people who’ve gone into the ditch. During the summer, there are all sorts of different things the sheriff’s department is doing.” He went on to explain that during the fishing opener for example, they will have deputies out on the water of certain lakes because of all the water traffic. They’ll use the deputies with the most experience with boating.

Also addressed was passing school buses when the “stop” arm is extended. Recently, many buses have been updated to include cameras, so when people violate that non-passing rule, their license plates can be lifted from the video and the authorities alerted. The penalty is a written citation and/or a fine; repeated violations can lead to jail time. Dulas also wanted to remind residents that school will be ending soon and that means more children will be out on the roads walking, on their bikes, electric scooters or hoverboards. “The kids won’t be paying attention like they should so it’s more on the grown-ups. The rules are, sidewalks are for walking and that’s it. You’re not supposed to be in the roadway unless you have headlights and turn signals and brake lights. In a perfect world these kids would only use these things on private property. But we find them everywhere and the kids aren’t criminals but if a cop spots them and tries to turn around and give a warning those kids have disappeared. We all just need to remember kids are out and about and we just want them safe, we’re all doing our best.” He also said dirt bikes and 4-wheelers are not allowed in ditches or on the road. In the ditches they tear up the grass, create divots and mud and that upsets wildlife; this is state law from April 1 till August 1 they legally can only be on private property or dirt bike tracks.

The Waseca Sheriff’s Department also wants to remind people concerned with the collapsed back end of the building at 115 South State Street, that it is private property. Said Dulas, “The building is accessible from the back but that doesn’t mean you need to go poking around in there. Stay out. That includes drone access as well. There is an investigation that is still ongoing, and we’ll see what the property owner decides when that’s completed.” Some of the displaced residents are still looking for long-term housing while things are sorted, with assistance, if needed through the county or Red Cross.   

Since 1969 the Sheriff’s Posse has been assisting the Waseca County Sheriff’s office. Membership has grown in the past few years; there are 20 members with 4 of them junior members and 3 senior. They assist with parade traffic, search and rescue missions, Waseca County Fair security, private security and more. It helps to own a horse or a 4-wheeler. They are an integral piece in helping the sheriff’s office with security. Anyone interested in joining the Posse, please contact Sheriff Dulas at (507) 835-0510.