Steve Wierenga, Director
The Mission of the Office of Special Operations (OSO) is to serve as an asset to the Department of Corrections and its mission to uphold the integrity and professionalism of the department’s operations and public safety services for the citizens of Wisconsin. OSO key objectives include:
- Independent safety and security reviews of DOC programs, institutions and offices.
- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) investigation and training.
- Internal employee investigations.
- Intelligence gathering and awareness.
- Critical incident management and preparedness.
The Office consists of two sections responsible for examining internal operations, enforcing departmental standards and laws via education, training, audits, and investigations, and recommending and implementing solutions to serve the goal of preventing, detecting and eliminating waste, fraud or mismanagement.
Special Investigations Section
Cheryl Frey, Section Chief
The Special Investigations Section reviews allegations involving supervisory misconduct, serious staff misconduct, all PREA violations and determines appropriate professional standards investigative action. Additionally, this section works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies to assist in the internal investigation of criminal matters and state-wide intelligence gathering and information sharing to aid in the safety of DOC operations, its employees/offenders as well as the citizens of Wisconsin.
The Special Investigations Section also provides necessary training to staff throughout the DOC. Through the investigative process, this section may also be called upon to identify areas within the Department where waste, fraud or abuse has occurred.
Preparedness and Emergency Response Section (PERS)
Tim Le Monds, Section Chief
The Preparedness and Emergency Response Section provides a systemic structure for Department-wide emergency preparedness, education, training, response and management. PERS also assists in the allocation of requested emergency response resources to communities across Wisconsin.
PERS is responsible for:
- Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP).
- Emergency Operations Plans,
- Emergency Operations Center.
- Preparedness and Operations.
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance.
- Incident Management Team operations.
- Comprehensive Exercise Program training and exercises.
- Security and operational audits.
- Vulnerability assessments.
- Incident management and notification administration, work stoppage, and disturbance planning.
- Resource allocation and policy development.
- Disaster response sharing and coordination.
- Security and safety training.
Additionally, PERS staff interface with Wisconsin Emergency Management and operate in the Statewide Emergency Operations Center to assist state and local resources in emergency and disaster planning, training, resource allocation, and incident command response within the state of Wisconsin.