By Craig Marx, Editor

A closed session was held yesterday at the Langlade County Board of Supervisors meeting which detailed the investigation of the county’s former HR director Raymond Weitz, who committed suicide in late December while under investigation for misconduct in office. The investigation was initiated by former Sheriff Bill Greening after resigning from office late last year.

The synopsis of the investigation states as such:

In February 2016, the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office started the recruitment process for a jail administrator. Among the applicants received, two were internal applicants; a female corrections officer and a male dispatcher/deputy. The female corrections officer complained that the Langlade Co. Corrections Staff would be discriminated against and later was not granted an interview.

She then filed a Sexual Discrimination complaint with Langlade Co. and the state of WI, at the direction of the human resources director, using two confidential emails that were given to her husband by the human resources director and since resigned. WI Department of Workplace Development later dismissed the Sexual Discrimination complaint.

When confronted with the release of the two emails by Langlade Co. Corporate Counsel, the human resources director initially denied, but later admitted to doing so and turned in his resignation letter the next day, on November 17, 2016.

Tammy Stegall, whose husband Joe is currently a corrections officer in Langlade County and also lost to Greening in the sheriff election two years ago, initially filed the sexual discrimination case in April of 2016 with the encouragement of Weitz, which was subsequently dismissed.

Stegall resigned from the sheriff’s office on June 21, 2016. Dispatcher/Deputy Don Bergbower was eventually hired for the jail administration position.

After sharing the two sensitive emails with Stegall’s husband, Weitz was eventually questioned by the head of the Corporation Counsel, Robin Stowe, and admitted to giving him the emails approximately three months prior. After the admission, Weitz was immediately placed on administrative leave.

The sexual discrimination case was dismissed on Nov. 29, where, two days later, then-Sheriff Greening arranged a meeting with the Personnel Committee of the county board in an attempt to explain Weitz’s involvement in the releasing of confidential emails, hoping to speak before the entire county board body about the case. The committee denied Greening’s request, stating liability issues.

The case was closed by the request of Interim Sheriff John Schunke on Jan. 3. due to Weitz’s suicide in Portage County on Dec. 29 of the this past year.

The two confidential emails will not be released, but the investigation report has now been made public record.

“I requested the assistance of the County’s legal counsel in determining what exceptions may apply to this Report,” a statement released by Interim Sheriff Schunke on Wednesday reads. “Please be advised that the Report contained two confidential emails from Langlade County Corporation Counsel Robin Stowe to Sheriff William Greening which are subject to the attorney-client privilege as set forth in Sec. 905.03, Wis. Stats., and these emails will not be disclosed at this time.”