March 5, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA, Wis. – A heated moment with a member of the public at a county meeting prompted Vernon County officials to overhaul their building security and weapons policies. The Vernon County General Government Committee voted in early February to draft a new ordinance prohibiting the public from carrying firearms into county facilities but the same committee wants to rewrite internal rules to allow county employees to carry concealed weapons at work.
The policies are still in draft form and will need more discussion and ultimately approval of the full county board once they are finalized. The county General Government Committee took up the issue at their March 4 meeting. Committee Chair Alycann Taylor explained that the focus originally started on protecting staff from the public but quickly expanded into a much larger internal debate.
“I think somehow this came to us to create an ordinance for the general public,” said Taylor. “That then dovetailed into … we have employees who have firearms too and how is that being handled now.”
The county office areas currently lack a single point of entry and metal detectors making it difficult to screen the public. Sheriff Roy Torgerson told the Public Safety Committee in January that his office is exploring more security options like artificial intelligence sensors that can detect a concealed weapon on a person.
Until new technology is funded Torgerson relies on his own tactical awareness and strategic seating during contentious meetings. He assured the board that he monitors the room closely and that dispatchers also watch the meetings live on a monitor.
Torgerson further explained that his staff has less lethal options he is prepared for the worst case scenario.
“I just want supervisors to know that we take security in the county board very seriously as well as the court,” said Torgerson.
Supervisor David Eggen questioned the sudden rush to restrict the public from carrying weapons.
“I get the impression that we’re trying to create an ordinance for an issue that isn’t a problem,” said Eggen.
Taylor pushed back arguing that establishing basic security rules is a proactive necessity.
“I don’t see why not putting an ordinance in place and getting some signage illustrating what we want for the building and the public … I feel like for me I think we should move in that direction,” said Taylor.
County Clerk Jerry Pedretti agreed that the county needs to be clear about its expectations for visitors.
“Your sign should say… unless we change it the public is not allowed to bring a gun,” said Pedretti. “No guns are allowed.”
During the February General Government Committee meeting Corporate Counsel Nikki Swayne outlined the legal framework for weapons bans. Swayne explained that state law permits counties to prohibit the carrying of firearms in county buildings with proper signage.
“It would mean that such a prohibition could and would apply to all, including those who have a concealed carry license,” said Swayne. “There are some exceptions though those would include district attorney, judge, law enforcement.”
Supervisor and former Vernon County Jail Administrator Charles Jacobson argued that banning public carry is necessary to remove any hesitation or guesswork for county employees during a crisis.
“You see a firearm from somebody in the public you don’t have to think okay, do they have a concealed carry,” said Jacobson. “It should be staff sees a gun, initiate your lockdown, call 911.”
Jacobson stressed that expecting civilian staff to pause and assess a threat level is dangerous.
“As soon as you delay, you either enable the shooter or maybe it’s fine, but I’d rather err on caution and take away the stress for staff and say it’s black and white,” said Jacobson.
Torgerson supported drafting a local public ordinance rather than relying strictly on state statutes because it gives deputies more flexibility in how they handle violators.
“Another thing I want to ask is, in the ordinance for the public, if you could add a penalty under the ordinance, that way you get the law involved when you’re trying to break this in, rather than charge them with state law,” said Torgerson.
The committee unanimously agreed to have Corporation Council Swayne draft an ordinance banning public firearms.
The conversation then shifted to a much more complex debate regarding county employees. Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Hanan read the current county workplace violence policy noting it is incredibly vague and only dictates that employees must lock weapons out of sight if they leave them in their vehicles in county parking lots.
“It really doesn’t say you cannot have a weapon in your desk but it also doesn’t say you can,” said Hanan. “I don’t like it so I want that updated regardless.”
Pedretti completely agreed that the existing rules fail to provide adequate guidance to staff.
“It just does not say that that’s the problem,” said Pedretti. “It might be the intent but that’s not what it says.”
Supervisor Paul Wilson strongly advocated for allowing employees with concealed carry permits to bring their weapons inside. Wilson pointed to Kenosha County which recently lifted its restrictions on employee carry after a threat assessment showed an 18 percent increase in threats against county staff.
Wilson urged the committee to recognize that the vast majority of county staff are responsible and law abiding citizens.
“I am representing today my current family employed here and the county family as a whole of employees to consider policy not restricting employees,” said Wilson. “This didn’t start or come about because of an employee issue.”
Coon Valley Police Chief Phillip Welch said he did not support the idea of a public gun ban that he felt would turn government buildings into soft targets for mass shooters.
“If you put up signs that say no weapons allowed you become a soft target,” said Welch. “So people know that if I target this place I’m probably not going to get resistance.”
“There are only two buildings in the county that always have a law enforcement officer present and that’s the courthouse and the sheriff’s office,” said Welch.
Eggen asked Welch for clarification on his assessment of building signage.
“Are you saying putting a decal on the door firearms that are restricted makes it a soft target?” asked Eggen.
Welch said in his opinon one of the goals of perpetrators is to inflict maximum damage.
“If the public knows that our employees are authorized to carry firearms you’re going to reduce the soft target people,” said Eggen.
Welch urged the committee to let trained staff protect themselves and their coworkers.
“I would advocate for the county to say that employees who have gone through whatever steps are necessary should be able to be armed inside the building and protect themselves,” said Welch. “Those who would have some discomfort level should be comforted by the fact that when something bad does happen that person next to me is protecting me.”
Taylor expressed reservations about how a heavily armed workforce would impact office morale and questioned whether the county should survey its staff before changing the rules.
“I’m curious what overall county employee will they feel safer if we amend it,” asked Taylor. “Because I have received both sides of this. Some employees have said I don’t particularly feel comfortable in knowing their are firearms with my co-workers.”
The proposal raised several other logistical concerns. Information Technology Director Conner Simon asked if requiring employees to register their concealed carry status with human resources would violate their rights. Swayne confirmed the county could legally require disclosure. However Supervisor Wayde Lawler expressed concern over the administrative burden of tracking employee permits.
“I would hope that our number one priority is reasonable safety concerns and not like administrative overhead just for the sake of having it on paper,” said Lawler. “I’m not sure that it helps Roy to know or if it’s even going to be in his mind when he walks into a building like okay these three people I think have licenses and those four don’t.”
Hanan pointed out that county employees frequently transport vulnerable members of the public such as elderly residents using the aging and disability resource center minibus or children in the human services department.
“You as a person being transported around by human services may not be comfortable with whoever is driving you around having a gun in the car,” said Hanan. “I just want you guys to like keep those things in mind that it’s not just that one employee in their car by themselves that it does involve members of the public.”
Torgerson suggested that the county could write specific vehicle rules for employees who are actively transporting citizens or charging mileage to the county.
Jacobson agreed that vehicle carry rules need careful review especially for rural workers.
“I think it should be looked at for maybe the vehicle simply for the highway guys,” said Jacobson. “I think it’s important for them to be out in the middle of the night whatever that they can do that”
However Jacobson insisted that if the county allows concealed carry it must explicitly ban open carry by employees to ensure safety standards are met.
“Are you going to allow somebody that’s untrained open carry in a county vehicle or a personal vehicle used for county purpose,” said Jacobson. “I think that shouldn’t be allowed because there’s no training requirements.”
Eggen also verified with legal counsel that the strict new employee rules would not impact citizens utilizing public lands.
“So this won’t interfere with the public opportunity to hunt on our county parks with rifles correct,” asked Eggen.
Swayne confirmed that the county cannot interfere with the lawful carrying of firearms on public lands outside of the county buildings.
Torgerson advised the committee to let the legislative process play out and gather input before making final decisions.
“I think this is a good example to let the system work,” said Torgerson. “We’re all elected here. I think once this gets drafted and heads the county board floor that we all listen to our constituents.”
Lawler ultimately made a motion to have corporate counsel draft a new employee policy mirroring the Kenosha County model. The new draft will allow staff to carry concealed weapons while specifically banning open carry and establishing strict rules for safe storage and handling. The committee approved the motion unanimously and will review the drafted public ordinance and the new employee policy at a future meeting.
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