Bowers case has gone on too long
Attorney general Josh Kaul needs to stop punishing Taylor County taxpayers just to prove a point.
In February 2017, Taylor County sheriff’s deputy Steve Bowers, a veteran member of the department, released unsolved case files to the producers of a truecrime television show without prior permission from then sheriff Bruce Daniels.
Bowers faced harsh administrative punishment for his actions, with a suspension and dropping of rank within the department. This was far from being a slap on the wrist, but that was not enough for the state attorney general’s office.
At the time the state attorney general’s office was fresh off the embarrassment generated by a Netflix series and renewed media attention on a botched murder investigation in Manitowoc County. In that case, the ineptness of the investigators and prosecution was brought to light through the release of information by local law enforcement.
The attorney general’s office knew it needed to send a clear message to law enforcement that the playground rule of “snitches get stitches” was in full effect. The office, then under Brad Schimmel, latched onto the Bowers investigation as a way to make an example of him, charging him with a pair of career-ending felonies alleging misconduct in office.
As the case has dragged on, and on, and on, and the people involved have retired or are moving closer to retirement, it is clear that the only people being punished are the taxpayers of Taylor County. Because you can’t simultaneously enforce the law while defending yourself from felony charges, Bowers is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. As such he continues to receive full salary and benefits including accrued vacation and sick time.
Over the past four years, the case has cost county taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention sucking up valuable court resources which could be better utilized bringing legitimate criminals to justice.
As the motions and briefs continue to fly back and forth and justice continues to mosey along at a snail’s pace, any pursuit of justice has been replaced by a tenacious desire to win despite the cost to taxpayers. Beyond, this is the certain knowledge that any jury verdict will likely be appealed all the way to the state supreme court over the issues of search and seizure and ownership of private files on public networks. While these may help define case law in the future, Taylor County taxpayers would just as soon not have to keep footing the bill to prove a point.
It is time for Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul to stop punishing Taylor County taxpayers and do what is necessary to settle this case and let all involved move on.
