Team Members: Capt. Porter, Lt. Moore, Deputy Fox, Deputy Herrem, Deputy Kaczmarski and Deputy Bridges. Pictured at left: Deputy Fox and Lt. Triggs.
In 2023, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office developed a Mental Health Team in order to provide and enhance the Sheriff’s Office level of service to the community. Mental health providers have the primary responsibility to diagnose and treat individuals with mental illness, but due to limited services, waitlists and the overall nature of mental illness, Deputies continue to respond to increased calls for service stemming from mental illness. Therefore, the need arose to create a specialized team to assist patrol in a mental health problem oriented policing initiative.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is committed to collaborating with mental health and community service providers, along with those in the justice system, to develop a more compassionate and cost-effective approach that emphasizes providing community-based treatment instead of arrest and incarceration of individuals affected by mental illness.
EMERGENCY: 911
Non-emergency dispatch: 608-255-2345
Dane County Crisis: 608-280-2600
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255
Deputy Fox
Deputy Herrem
Deputy Kaczmarski
Deputy Bridges
"Our mission at the Dane County Sheriff’s Office is to provide resources and support for those living with mental illness. Mental illness is NOT a crime and we should treat mental illness the same way we treat physical illness. Whether an illness affects your arm, your brain or your heart, it’s still an illness and there should be no distinction. So please don’t hesitate to reach out if you find yourself in need of assistance".
Sheriff Kalvin D. Barrett
Please click the button below to see a comprehensive list of mental health resources available in our community
National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Dane County
Journey Mental Health Center: Journey Mental Health Center
Behavioral Health Resource Center: Behavioral Health | Department of Human Services (danecountyhumanservices.org)
Aging and Disability Resource Center: Aging and Disability Resource Center for Dane County | Dane ADRC
RISE Wisconsin: Home - RISE (risewisconsin.org)
Madison Police Mental Health Unit: Mental Health Unit - Police Department - City of Madison, Wisconsin
Safe Communities: Safe Communities - Safe Communities of Madison | Dane County (safercommunity.net)
Tellurian: Tellurian | Substance Use & Mental Health Recovery | WI
Briarpatch Youth Services: Briarpatch Youth Services (youthsos.org)
Joining Forces for Families: Joining Forces for Families | Department of Human Services (danecountyhumanservices.org)
Miramont Behavioral Health: Miramont Behavioral Health | Middleton, Wisconsin Acute Psychiatric Hospital (miramontbh.com)
Waisman Center, Advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities and neurodeneratgive diseases: Waisman Center – UW–Madison (wisc.edu)
Hoarding Task Force: Dane County Hoarding Resource Guide - 2025
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resources: Rehab.com
