March 3, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson is renewing a statewide push to get Wisconsin drivers to attach an emergency contact to their state records. Torgerson recently met with the grieving mother who inspired the original legislation and he promised her local law enforcement would carry on her mission to ensure families are promptly notified after severe accidents.
Torgerson briefed the Vernon County Public Safety Committee in early March about his February meeting with Christine Olson. Olson is the founder of the To Inform Families First foundation. She successfully lobbied the state of Florida to create an emergency contact database after her sixteen year old daughter Tiffiany died in a motorcycle crash in 2005. Olson did not find out about her daughter’s death until six and a half hours later while the teenager lay alone in a morgue just fifteen minutes from their home.
Torgerson explained that Olson is hoping to step back from her advocacy work this fall which marks twenty years since her daughter passed away.
“I told her I think you can retire in peace and we will pick up the torch where you left off,” said Torgerson. “If you have not registered your emergency contact information I really strongly urge you to do it.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation launched the opt in feature in 2024 allowing residents to submit their emergency contact details through a secure online portal. The confidential data is only accessible to law enforcement officers.
State Representative Loren Oldenburg and State Senator Jesse James authored the legislation known as Wisconsin Act 57 after Torgerson brought the concept to Oldenburg’s office.
Oldenburg previously noted that the perspective of local law enforcement was critical to getting the bill passed into law.
“I would like to thank Senator Jesse James for all of his assistance and Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson for bringing this idea to my office,” said Oldenburg. “As law enforcement officers their perspectives were extremely helpful and necessary to bring this feature to life.”
James who also served as a police officer stressed the practical value of the tool for first responders who are trying to help vulnerable individuals.
“This is extremely valuable information when it comes to accidents or even a walk away situation for an Alzheimer’s patient an overdose or any emergency when we may need to contact a loved one on a Wisconsinite’s behalf,” said James.
Torgerson reported to the committee that roughly eight hundred thousand Wisconsin residents have registered since the program began but he wants to see that number increase significantly. He outlined how the system works in the field noting that deputies running a license plate or searching a driver license number on their computer will immediately see who to call if a driver is unconscious or severely injured.
Supervisor Sandy Schweiger asked Torgerson if residents could add the information at any time.
Torgerson confirmed the system is always open and emphasized that the online registration process is incredibly simple for anyone to complete.
“It took me two minutes and 50 seconds to register mine online,” said Torgerson. “You need your driver license number, the last four of your social, name and date of birth, and then the name of the person you want to list as emergency contacts.”
Torgerson added that he and Milwaukee County Sheriff Dr. Denita Ball are actively working together to promote the program across the state to ensure families are never left waiting in the dark during an emergency.
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