Richard Schmidt is the acting Milwaukee County Sheriff.
Prior to becoming acting Sheriff he was a senior commander in the Milwaukee County Sheriff‘s Department.
Official biography from Milwaukee County website…
Inspector Schmidt was appointed to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office on June 6, 1986. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1996, Captain in January of 2002, Deputy Inspector in January of 2003, Inspector of Detention in February 2006, and Inspector, Senior Commander in 2010 by Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.
Inspector Schmidt has led the Police Services Bureau, which included Expressway Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Airport Security. In 2004, he was put in charge of the Detention Services Bureau. This included oversight of the medical, clerical, correctional officers, and sworn staff assigned to the Milwaukee County Jail, On January 1, 2009, the House of Correction in Franklin, the electronic inmate monitoring, and the Huber community access program all came under the authority of the Sheriff. The associated facilities and programs were then placed in the Detention Bureau. In addition, the Detention Bureau was expanded to include the Courts Services Division, which provides bailiffs for the Milwaukee County Court House, the Criminal Justice Facility, the Safety Building and the courts located at the Children’s Detention Center in Wauwatosa. In August of 2010, Inspector Schmidt was promoted by Sheriff Clarke as the Senior Commander of the Agency, and placed in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office.
Inspector Schmidt has a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Masters Degree in Administration, both from Hyles-Anderson Crown Point, IN, and earned a doctorate from Northland International University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Executive Management Program, the National Institute of Corrections Executive Excellence program, the F.B.I. National Academy and has attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government for the classes Driving Government Performance, Senior Executives in State & Local Governments and Mastering Negotiations. Inspector Schmidt has participated in the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association, the F.B.I. National Academy, the National Institute of Corrections – Large Jail Network Trainings, and the Wisconsin Jail Association. He has been involved through the Sheriff’s Office with volunteer efforts with the Special Olympics, Shop with a Cop, the Johnetta Borum Christmas party for underprivileged children, the National Education Association’s Read Across America, and the Salvation Army.
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Content referencing Richard Schmidt
Franklin Mayor Faces Growing List of Sexual Harassment Allegations, Workplace Investigations
Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office records from more than a decade ago echo allegations from recent Waterford investigation.
May 1st, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
How Will County Jail React To Trump’s ‘Mass Deportation’ Policy?
Per Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office policy, it does not detain individuals at the request of ICE.
Jan 16th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Sheriff Lucas Leaving for Job With Fiserv
Will become Vice President of Security for Wisconsin for company headquartered in Brookfield.
Oct 21st, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Interview with Mohamed Awad
Awad wants to change culture of Sheriff's Office, saying commanders from Clarke-era must go.
Aug 7th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Pension Backdrop Costs Hit $354 Million
Total cost rose $58 million since 2016, may hit $460 million before all eligible workers retire.
Aug 16th, 2021 by Angeline Terry
Sheriff Projects $3.9 Million Overtime Deficit
Sheriff blames understaffing. Finance Committee does not accept his report.
Jun 30th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
County Jail Gets National Accreditation
Sheriff says accreditation from National Commission on Correctional Health Care was "years in the making."
May 17th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
Board Approves Overtime Oversight Policy
New policy will likely bring the sheriff's office before the board to explain overtime expenditures.
Apr 26th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
Committee Rejects Sheriff Cuts
But it also passed a widely supported increase in spending for services like housing and youth justice.
Nov 5th, 2020 by Graham Kilmer
Abele’s Budget Sees Cuts, and New Programs
Proposed budget closes two pools and cuts bus routes, but boosts the Sheriff's department
Oct 1st, 2019 by Graham Kilmer
Five Takeaways from Yesterday’s Election
The race for Terry Witkowski's seat had surprises -- and key lessons.
Jul 17th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
Will Earnell Lucas Be a “People’s Sheriff”?
That’s what new sheriff promised; community members hope he will be very different than David Clarke.
Jan 4th, 2019 by Max Nawara
Sheriff Lucas Pledges to Restore “Integrity”
Sees challenges, promises changes to county office run by David Clarke for 15 years.
Dec 6th, 2018 by Corrinne Hess
Did Abele, Newspaper Cover Up Schmidt Pension?
Decisions by county exec, Journal Sentinel, suppressed news of his lucrative pension.
Aug 21st, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Are Journalists Your Enemy?
29% of Americans say yes, many support shutting down free press. Disagree? You can help.
Aug 16th, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
All the Election Data You Want
It was one for the history books, with many surprising results and newcomers.
Aug 15th, 2018 by Jeramey Jannene
23 Election Winners and Losers
Beyond the vote totals, who were the other winners and losers in yesterday’s election?
Aug 15th, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Candidates for Common Council
Six candidates for 5th District in only primary contest.
Aug 13th, 2018 by Jeramey Jannene
Democratic Candidate Guide
Packed Democratic gubernatorial race and county sheriff contest are top items on Tuesday's ballot.
Aug 13th, 2018 by Jeramey Jannene
Schmidt’s Pension An Issue for Deputies
Co-workers know he’s getting $1 million pension, say issue is divisive for department.
Aug 13th, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Schmidt Will Get $1 Million Pension
Acting Sheriff doesn’t deny it, refuses to say whether he will sign waiver of backdrop benefit.
Aug 2nd, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Schmidt Pension At Issue In Sheriff Race?
Acting Sheriff could collect a lot from taxpayers. Will he waive lucrative backdrop benefit?
Aug 2nd, 2018 by Bruce Murphy
Schmidt Remarks on Domestic Violence Criticized
Acting Sheriff suggests victimized women should submit themselves to Holy Spirit.
Aug 1st, 2018 by Chuck Quirmbach
Sheriff Candidates All Promise Big Changes
All three acknowledge budget constraints and need to improve department long run by David Clarke.
Jul 31st, 2018 by Ximena Conde
Juneteenth Day 2018
Neither rain nor chilly summer temperatures stopped the festivities, as our photos attest.
Jun 20th, 2018 by Jack Fennimore
The Online Legacy of Sheriff Clarke
His use of government social media set an ugly precedent which must be rejected.
Sep 14th, 2017 by Isiah Holmes
