Frequently Asked Questions

A complaint may be initiated in person, by telephone, by letter or online using the Citizen Complaint Form. Complaints can be filed 24 hours a day with a police supervisor. During regular business hours, other administrative personnel are also available to take a complaint.

If the complaint is against the Deputy Chief, Captain, Support Services Manager, Detective Lieutenant, Lieutenant or the Communications Coordinator the complaint should be filed with the Chief of Police. If the complaint is against the Chief of Police the complaint should be filed with the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission.

Yes, just have a parent or legal guardian present with you.

No, however, anonymous complaints can be difficult to investigate and thus the conclusion might not be what you expected. Also, if the investigation results in criminal action against the employee, you may be needed for successful prosecution.

Yes, the employee will eventually be advised of the allegation made against him/her and, if the complainant has identified himself/herself, the identity of the person making the allegation will be provided to the employee.

Absolutely not! It is essential that public confidence be maintained so that we may properly investigate and adjudicate complaints.

If the investigation shows misconduct, the employee will be disciplined according to the seriousness of the rules violation. Disciplinary actions range from oral reprimand to suspension or in extreme cases, termination. If the allegation is criminal in nature, the case will be presented for prosecution. Other appropriate remedies include policy change and retraining.

Minor complaints are often handled immediately. The investigation of serious charges may take up to thirty days unless circumstances necessitate additional time.

Yes, once the investigation has been completed, you will be informed of the results if you have identified yourself when making the complaint.

You may contact the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission, or in the case of possible criminal violations, you may contact the District Attorney.

Malicious and deliberate false accusations are occasionally made against the agency or its personnel. It is important to note that making a false statement which you know to be untrue may subject you to criminal charges and or a civil lawsuit by the agency or its employee.

If you have any questions or would like further information or assistance in filing a complaint, contact the Whitewater Police in person, by telephone at 262-473-0555, or by emailing the Police Department.

The person requesting a Police Department open record (police accident report, incident report, background check, etc) may fill out a request form or formulario de solicitud de registros abiertos and send/email the form to the Police Department. They can also make requests via phone (262-473-0555 option 1) or email (police@whitewater-wi.gov).  All open record requests are reviewed and may take up to 10 business days depending on the length of the request and what is being requested.  A fee may be charged based on your request.

Please call 262-473-0555 (option 1) for any Police Department open records questions.  Hours for the Police Department's Inner Lobby and Records Department are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The offices are closed on holidays.

Citizens having a legitimate interest in observing police patrol operations may request to ride-along with an officer of the Whitewater Police Department. Citizens may make such requests by calling the Police Department at 262-473-0555.

Call 911 for all emergencies. Crimes can be reported to the police department 24/7 in person or by calling our communications center at 262-473-0555 option 4. Information can also be reported to Walworth County Crime Stoppers at 262-723-2677.

Please refer to Municipal Code Chapter 7.62 on minors - curfew and loitering for information about curfews.

No. Block parties are prohibited.

You must have your dog under voice command or on a leash. If your animal is at large it will be impounded by the Walworth County Human Society. There is a $30 fee that must be paid to the City Treasurer before your animal is released.

Animals which habitually bark or cry are prohibited. Please review Municipal Ordinance Chapter 9.08 Animal Controls for further information regarding your responsibilities as a pet owner. Citations can be issued for noncompliance of these ordinances.

An individual business or residence is allowed 3 false alarm calls per year. The property or business owner may be billed $100 for each alarm thereafter.

View a concise guide to moving into a residential neighborhood (PDF) and some tips on partying smart, safe and sober (PDF) to find the information you need.

The Department promptly investigates allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing by department members and to take appropriate action as to discipline, policy change, or exoneration. A complaint means that someone is dissatisfied with our performance.

If we are doing something wrong, the complaint will help the department recognize and correct deficiencies in our service to the community. It is the intent of the Police Department to provide its residents with only the highest quality law enforcement service. Access the online citizen complaint form to submit a complaint.

Being the victim of a crime is a very disturbing experience. The victim information guide (PDF) has been designed to describe some of the rights crime victims have in Wisconsin. It may help you in obtaining present and future services.

When you want to say thank you for a job well done by a police officer or other employee of the department, you can visit or call the Whitewater Police Department during regular business hours and ask to speak to a supervisor, or write a letter addressed to:
Whitewater Police Department
Attention: Employee Commendation
312 W Whitewater Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

You may also email the department. When saying thanks, please try to remember the name of the employee, and the circumstances of how you were helped. The incident will be reviewed and the police officer or employee could receive an award or letter of commendation.

Private fingerprinting is available through your local Sheriff's Department or University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department.

To view found property come to the Whitewater Police Department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Be prepared to present either written documentation or give a verbal confirmation of ownership.

For information on sidewalk fundraising, please refer to Municipal Code 5.28.035 Outdoor Food Sales.

For rules regarding skateboards, please refer to Municipal Code 11.48.115 Skate Boards and Skating.

As a result of security issues and budgetary concerns, the Whitewater Police Department maintains the following policy regarding requests for official Whitewater Police Department uniform patches:

• We will not honor any patch request from outside the continental United States.
• Any request from with in the continental United States must originate from another law enforcement agency and must be submitted on agency letterhead. Our patch can be displayed for agency use only, not for individual patch collections.

The person requesting a Police Department accident report may fill out a request form or formulario de solicitud de registros abiertos and send/email the form to the Police Department. They can also make requests via phone (262-473-0555 option 1) or email (police@whtiewater-wi.gov).  

All open record requests are reviewed and may take up to 10 business days depending on the length of the request and what is being requested.  A fee may be charged based on your request.

Please call 262-473-0555 option 1 for any Police Department open records questions.  Hours for the Police Department's Inner Lobby and Records Department are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The offices are closed on holidays.

If involved in a traffic accident in the City, contact the Whitewater Police Department and an officer will be assigned to respond to the accident and determine the level of investigation necessary.

Dog licenses are required and valid for one calendar year. Dogs must wear licenses and rabies tags. A current rabies certificate is required to purchase an animal license.

Although cats are not required to be licensed, they must have a current rabies tag. Licenses are available for purchase at the Finance Department of the Municipal Building.

Required by the City, licenses can be obtained at the Police Department. The non-expiring license fee is $3.

Sale, use and possession of fireworks is prohibited without a permit. Please refer to the Municipal Code Chapter 5.08 Fireworks for more information.

No permit is required however, there are regulations for these fires. View Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 Open Burning for more information. View the Whitewater Burning Permit Application Form.

The Whitewater Police Department is processing Wisconsin Department of Transportation vehicle renewals at the Police Department lobby. The hours of service are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and there is a fee of $16.25 per registration. You may contact us by phone at 262-473-0555 option 1 or by emailing the Police Department with questions regarding vehicle renewals.

Powered by Froala Editor

Parking is prohibited on most Whitewater streets between 2 to 5 a.m. Winter parking restrictions begin on November 1st and end on March 31st (parking is prohibited on all city streets from 2 to 6 a.m.). On-street parking is prohibited when snowplowing or snow removal operations are in progress.

Parking is also restricted within 4 feet of a driveway and 10 feet from a fire hydrant. There is also no parking within 15 feet of the near limits of a cross walk and anywhere else where restricted by signage. Other than on a paved parking lot or driveway, parking is prohibited on front and side lawns. Uncovered storage of unlicensed, junk, and/or unregistered vehicles is prohibited in all residential neighborhoods.

Note for Winter Parking. There is no parking on any street in the City between the hours of 2 am and 6 am on any day from November 1st of each year to March 31st of each year. In addition, special arrangements may be made in advance by contacting the Department of Public Works. 

Any person who violates the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to the penalties and provisions set forth in Sections 11.56.010(4) and 11.56.010(5) of the Municipal Code.

Parking tickets may be contested by contacting the Whitewater Police Department within 7 days of issuance for a Municipal Court appearance. If a court appearance is not requested the ticket must be paid within 7 days. Payments can be made by putting the payment and ticket number in an envelope and placing it in the payment drop boxes in the vestibules of the Whitewater Municipal Building, via the U.S. Postal Service (do not send cash), by calling 262-473-0555 with credit card information or electronically by using the Payment Services Network.

If you experience technical difficulties please call Payment Services Network support at 1-877-885-7968. Payment Services Network now has a mobile app for android and i-phone. Visit the Google play store or i-Tunes to download the free mobile app. Search for "PSN Payments".

For parking violations 1 to 11:

• Paid within 7 days forfeiture amount will be $40
• Paid after 7 days forfeiture amount will be $60
• Paid after 30 days forfeiture amount will be $80

Parking Violation 12 or more:

• Paid within 7 days forfeiture amount will be $80
• Paid after 7 days forfeiture amount will be $120
• Paid after 30 days forfeiture amount will be $160

Failure to pay after 60 days will result in an increase to $45 or $165 and the suspension of your vehicle registration, along with your name being added to the Wisconsin Tax Refund Intercept Program.