Evidence-Based
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.
Below is a small timeline of events:
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
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
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/
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
Investigation into Eau Claire Co. DHS continues
Oct 14, 2020
https://www.weau.com/2020/10/15/investigation-into-eau-claire-co-dhs-continues/
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
Eau Claire County DA Under Investigation
June 3, 2021
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/