Vote Kristin Bills-Garcia for Jackson County Sheriff

10/28/2026

💥OPERATIONAL READINESS: POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND TRAINING

Operational readiness is about more than having enough personnel and working equipment. It's also about ensuring our employees have the training, guidance, and leadership necessary to perform their duties safely, effectively, and consistently.

Policies and procedures establish expectations, provide accountability, and protect both our employees and the public.

As your next Sheriff, I will:

✅ Review and update department policies and procedures to ensure they reflect current laws, professional standards, and operational needs.

✅ Evaluate training requirements and opportunities to ensure employees receive the training necessary to perform their duties confidently and effectively.

✅ Invest in employee development and career advancement by working with employees to identify their professional goals and providing opportunities for specialized training, additional responsibilities, and leadership development. I want employees to see a future within our department and have a pathway to achieve their career goals.

✅ Implement succession planning to identify and develop employees who have an interest in advancing into supervisory and leadership positions. We must prepare our employees to step into these roles when vacancies occur, whether through retirement, promotion, or other departures. Being proactive ensures continuity of operations, preserves institutional knowledge, and reduces disruptions to the department.

✅ Establish clear expectations and accountability so employees understand their responsibilities and are held to consistent standards.

✅ Implement regular reviews and after-action evaluations to identify what is working, where improvements are needed, and what lessons can be applied moving forward.

✅ Encourage employee input because the people performing these duties every day often have valuable insight into where improvements can be made.

During my military service as a Noncommissioned Officer, I learned that readiness doesn't happen by accident. It requires preparation, clear expectations, consistent training, and leaders who take responsibility for ensuring their personnel are prepared.

One of the responsibilities of an NCO is developing Soldiers, preparing them for greater responsibilities, and ensuring they are capable of stepping into leadership roles when needed. That same principle should apply to the Sheriff's Office.

Developing our employees is not only an investment in their future, but also an investment in the future of our department. When employees see opportunities for professional growth and advancement, we strengthen retention, build leadership from within, and create a more sustainable workforce.

We cannot expect our employees to meet standards that haven't been clearly communicated, or perform effectively without the training and resources necessary to succeed.

Operational readiness begins with leadership. It requires a proactive approach, not simply reacting when something goes wrong.

10/27/2026

🚨OPERATIONAL READINESS STARTS WITH EQUIPMENT THAT WORKS.

Yesterday I addressed operational readiness as it relates to our hard working staff. Today I want to talk about equipment.

In order to respond effectively to public safety incidents, we must ensure that our law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and emergency responders have the proper equipment and, just as importantly, that the equipment is reliable and functioning as intended.

Throughout this campaign, we have repeatedly heard the term "end of life" used to describe the condition of some of our county's most critical public safety equipment.

That should concern every resident of Jackson County.

Equipment readiness is not simply about purchasing new technology. It's about responsible planning, preventative maintenance, identifying deficiencies before they become failures, and ensuring our personnel have the tools necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively.

As your next Sheriff, here is how I will address operational readiness:

✅ CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EQUIPMENT INVENTORY: Immediately assess existing equipment across the Sheriff's Office, including patrol, corrections, and communications. Identify what we have, its condition, maintenance history, and expected replacement timeline.

✅ PRIORITIZE CRITICAL EQUIPMENT: Identify equipment essential to officer safety, emergency communications, and daily operations. Address deficiencies based on operational necessity, risk, and public safety impact.

✅ IMPLEMENT A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN: Establish consistent inspection and maintenance schedules to identify potential problems before equipment fails. Proper maintenance extends equipment life and reduces unexpected expenses.

✅ DEVELOP A LONG-TERM REPLACEMENT PLAN: Establish a realistic replacement schedule based on equipment condition, manufacturer support, expected service life, and operational needs. We should not be waiting until critical equipment reaches the end of its useful life before beginning the replacement process.

✅ STRENGTHEN BUDGET PLANNING AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Work collaboratively with the Law Enforcement Committee and County Board to forecast equipment needs, evaluate available options, and prioritize expenditures. Significant purchases should be supported by documented needs, transparent costs, and responsible planning.

✅ INVOLVE THE PEOPLE USING THE EQUIPMENT: Our deputies, correctional officers, and dispatchers understand the challenges they encounter every day. Their input should be part of evaluating equipment performance, identifying deficiencies, and determining operational needs.

✅ ESTABLISH ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT: Maintain accurate equipment records, document deficiencies, track maintenance, and regularly evaluate whether corrective actions are being completed.

Operational readiness is a leadership responsibility.

We cannot expect our personnel to respond effectively to emergencies if they are working with unreliable equipment or systems that have been allowed to deteriorate without a clear replacement strategy.

This is particularly important as Jackson County continues to address concerns surrounding its aging emergency communications infrastructure.

My goal is not to purchase equipment simply for the sake of purchasing it. My goal is to ensure we have the right equipment, in working condition, when it is needed most.

A proactive approach to equipment management also protects taxpayers. Planning ahead allows us to anticipate expenses, evaluate alternatives, and make informed purchasing decisions rather than reacting to emergencies.

Ultimately, ensuring operational readiness allows us to focus on what matters most: protecting our staff, responding to emergencies, and keeping both our personnel and the public safe.

10/26/2026

REAL CHANGE STARTS WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF.

Throughout this campaign, one of the concerns I have heard repeatedly from residents is the drug problem facing Jackson County. Families are being affected, lives are being lost, and our communities want meaningful action.

But before we can effectively combat drugs and address other public safety challenges, we must strengthen something fundamental: The operational readiness of our Sheriff's Office.

Staffing levels have been described as being at crisis levels across multiple divisions. While recruitment is critical, retaining our experienced employees is equally important.

Retention is about more than compensation. It is about leadership, workplace culture, accountability, and ensuring employees feel valued and supported.

Throughout this campaign, we have discussed concerns about the culture within the Sheriff's Office. The Adam Olson investigation brought forward concerns from employees regarding their ability to report issues within the department.

As your next Sheriff, I will work to establish a culture of "SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING."

Employees must feel confident that concerns will be taken seriously, addressed appropriately, and handled without retaliation.

I will maintain an open-door policy. While employees will be encouraged to utilize their chain of command, there must also be a way to report concerns directly to the Sheriff when they do not feel comfortable going through that chain.

Restoring trust requires clear communication, defined expectations, and consistent accountability at every level.

TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY

Our deputies, correctional officers, dispatchers, and support staff regularly face stressful situations and traumatic incidents.

I will prioritize employee wellness by strengthening support programs, maintaining open communication, and ensuring staff have access to the resources they need.

I also intend to implement regular employee meetings and operational reviews. These will help us:

✅ Evaluate calls for service and identify opportunities for improvement.

✅ Assess equipment readiness, policies, procedures, and training needs.

✅ Identify employee concerns and address issues contributing to burnout.

✅ Discuss career goals and provide opportunities for professional development.

✅ Recognize employees who demonstrate exceptional performance, teamwork, and dedication.

Accountability isn't just about identifying what needs improvement. It's also about recognizing what our employees are doing right.

I believe our employees deserve meaningful recognition beyond milestone awards. Their hard work and accomplishments should be acknowledged and, when appropriate, shared with the community.

LISTENING TO OUR STAFF AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY

Our employees are the boots on the ground. They understand what is working, what isn't, and where improvements are needed.

I will seek their input while reviewing job descriptions, responsibilities, and workflows to identify unnecessary duplication of duties and opportunities to improve efficiency.

When staffing is already strained, inefficient practices increase workloads and contribute to burnout.

BUILDING A CULTURE OF TEAMWORK

My military service taught me the importance of taking care of the people beside you.

In law enforcement, our employees are responsible not only for protecting the lives of our citizens but also for protecting one another.

Trust, communication, teamwork, and mutual respect are essential. Leadership must set that example.

RETENTION IS ALSO A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Employee turnover is expensive. Recruitment, hiring, training, overtime, and replacing experienced personnel all come at a cost to taxpayers.

But we lose more than money. We lose experience, institutional knowledge, and valuable employees who serve our communities.

Employee retention is not just a staffing issue. It is an operational, financial, and public safety issue.

The men and women serving within the Jackson County Sheriff's Office are the backbone of this organization.

They deserve leadership that listens, addresses concerns, supports their development, recognizes their accomplishments, and holds everyone to consistent standards.

When our employees are successful, our Sheriff's Office is successful. And when our Sheriff's Office is successful, our entire community benefits.

We cannot effectively address the challenges facing Jackson County without first ensuring our Sheriff's Office has the staffing, equipment, training, and leadership necessary to do the job.

Jackson County needs leadership that doesn't simply recognize problems but develops strategies, takes action, and delivers measurable results.

I am prepared to lead that effort.

Because taking care of our staff means taking care of Jackson County.

10/25/2026

The Sheriff keeps making everything about politics... let's take a look 👀....

These photographs are from 2018, an election year in which Sheriff Duane Waldera was himself seeking reelection. During that same election cycle, he publicly endorsed Max Hart and Steve Boe, both running on the same party ticket, while wearing his Sheriff's uniform and using his official title.

It should also be noted that Max Hart was a sitting County Board member at the time and currently serves on the Law Enforcement Committee (LEC), which votes on matters involving the Sheriff's Office, including budgets, expenditures, and departmental initiatives. The Sheriff using his official capacity, in uniform, speaking for the Sheriff's Office and Jackson County as a whole. We do not see a disclaimer in these endorsements like we did with Travis Brown's, stating this is not the official view of the City Police Department or the City of Black River Falls.

The Sheriff consistently views criticism of his leadership through a political lens, often characterizing those who raise concerns or disagree with him as politically motivated. Yet these photographs raise questions about his own involvement in politics while representing the Office of Sheriff.

I will be addressing the Sheriffs latest post later today.

Stay tuned...

10/25/2026

🎃What a great evening in downtown Black River Falls yesterday!

I had a wonderful time attending Downtown Trick or Treat and the Trail of Terror! It was great seeing so many families out enjoying the festivities and our community coming together.

One of the most rewarding parts of this campaign has been the opportunity to meet and talk with so many people throughout Jackson County. I truly appreciate everyone who shared their thoughts, offered words of encouragement, and expressed their support.

The conversations and support I've received throughout this campaign mean so much to me. Thank you to everyone who continues to encourage me and believes in the positive change we can bring to Jackson County!

And thank you to everyone who helped organize these events and make them possible. It was a great evening in our community!

10/24/2026

💥Today, I wanted to share a letter of endorsement from Travis Brown, Chief of Police for the City of Black River Falls.

I've always believed that public safety is a shared responsibility. Building strong working relationships between departments and community partners will be key to achieving our goals, improving efficiency, and delivering meaningful results.

I'm grateful for his confidence and support, and I'm excited about the opportunity to work together toward a common goal of making our communities safer.

10/23/2026

THANK YOU, JACKSON COUNTY!

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who attended last night's Jackson County Sheriff's Debate, both in person and virtually.

The debate provided a valuable opportunity for residents to hear directly from both candidates, gain a better understanding of the issues facing Jackson County, and make informed decisions about the future leadership of the Sheriff's Office. I appreciate the community's engagement.

Thank you to Stop the Stigma for organizing the event, the Water Spirit Singers for their performance, , and the moderators for their time and efforts in facilitating the discussion.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experience, my priorities, and my vision for the future of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support and encourage me throughout this campaign. Your support means more than you know!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd! I encourage everyone to get out and exercise your right to vote. Your voice matters, and so does your vote!

Kristin Bills-Garcia
Candidate for Jackson County Sheriff

10/20/2026

📢 JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEBATE — PUBLIC INVITED!

I encourage everyone to attend this Thursday's Sheriff's Debate! This is your opportunity to hear directly from both candidates about the issues facing Jackson County and the future of our Sheriff's Office.

📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 American Legion Post 200
421 Highway 54, Black River Falls

5:30–6:30 PM: The Water Spirit Singers will honor the candidates and community with a special performance of sacred songs. Those arriving during the performance are asked to enter quietly and silence their phones.

LIVE STREAM & RECORDING AVAILABLE!
For those unable to attend, the debate will be streamed live and recorded.

🔗 watch here : https://www.youtube.com/live/Rbfa2-0gAdM

Come hear from us directly, ask questions through the debate process, and make your decision about who will be the next Sheriff of Jackson County.

I hope to see a strong turnout Thursday evening!

Join us LIVE on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM Central Time...

10/15/2026

💥Update