Allegations Franklin Mayor Nelson Attempts to Remove Documents Pertaining to Waterford Investigation from a NON-Public area

 

In May, multiple local media sources (Belling, Wisconsin Right Now, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Journal Times) all reported John Nelson, Mayor of Franklin and full-time Lieutenant in the Waterford Police Department was placed on Suspension/Administrative Leave pending an internal investigation.

On October 17, 2024 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that John Nelson has officially "retired" in the middle of a pending investigation of the Waterford Town Board. 

Franklin Community News has obtained information indicating that on the day of Mayor Nelsons investigation interview, prior to his "retirement", he attempted to unlawfully gain access to documents of one of the ongoing investigations in a non-public area in the Town of Waterford Administration building.

On October 17, 2024 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that John Nelson has officially "retired" in the middle of a pending investigation of the Waterford Town Board.   

“It is important to understand that investigations were started because of serious allegations against some of our employees,” Terri Jendusa-Nicolai, Board Chair wrote in a Sept. 27 post on her page. “If these allegations were not looked into properly the town board would not be doing its job and legal action against the town would be a real possibility.”

According to a Facebook post made by Robert Ulander, Waterford Town Supervisor on "Robert Ulander for Waterford Town Board" on November 27, 2024 at 7:15am:

"Shortly after Officer Ferger was placed on leave, allegations of harassment, among other things, were raised against the lieutenants (former Acting Chief, Lieutenant Jeschke and Lieutenant Nelson). These initial allegations were unrelated to each other and were raised by separate officers within the department. When allegations of harassment are made they must be investigated. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is very clear on this. When the alleged perpetrators are supervisors, they cannot be left to supervise the employees they allegedly harassed. With such a small department, there isn’t someplace to stick officers on desk duty and even having the supervisors present in the workplace raises continued harassment concerns. They had to be placed on leave. State law requires that they be paid. Both lieutenants have since retired prior to the conclusion of their individual investigations.

The day of Lt. Nelson’s interview, he arrived with a large tote. He was not there to clear out his desk. He was there searching for documents for one of the ongoing investigations. This is exactly why everyone was instructed that he was not to have access to non-public areas of the building. He gained access prior to his interview and left his tote behind, having been unable to find the sought after documents. Following the interview, when he went to retrieve his tote, the clerk of 25 years, who had been reminded twice that day not to, opened the door and let him in. She even suggested she would be willing to help him find the documents he had been looking for. I urge anyone interested to file an open records request for the video footage of this incident. Police department policy, which is not crafted by the board but is normally the responsibility of the police chief, is that these video records are public records. State law provides some protection for employees so records may be delayed, such as when Lt. Nelson sued to prevent the release of documents related to his investigation. (The board has made changes to two policies since this ordeal began). The clerk’s actions had the potential to taint multiple investigations; she didn’t just let him retrieve his tote. The clerk was placed on leave pending board action. She was given numerous opportunities to discuss the issue; she ignored every attempt to contact her. After several weeks, the board determined she had resigned due to job abandonment. She did not object.

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a principle of criminal law. In civil and administrative proceedings, a fact finder can make inferences based on the silence of the accused. That both lieutenants chose to "retire" amidst an active investigation, and one of them (John Nelson, Mayor of Franklin) has sued both Milwaukee County and the Town of Waterford to prevent the release of the relevant records is quite telling. Draw whatever inference you choose until those records become available."

Graham Kilmer from Urban Milwaukee reported on November 19, 2024:

"The mayor of the City of Franklin, John R. Nelson, doesn’t want the public to see records related to his time as a Milwaukee County Sheriff‘s Office (MCSO) deputy. Nelson, represented by attorneys from MacGillis Weimer, is suing Milwaukee County and a handful of county officials seeking to block the release of MCSO internal affairs case files that involve him, as well as his personnel record and disciplinary records.  Nelson worked as a sheriff’s deputy for nearly 18 years beginning in 1995. The circumstances of his departure are unusual. His LinkedIn page lists him as having “retired” from the job as a “Lieutenant” in the department in March 2012 and then having taken a job as Safety, Security and Training Manager for Milwaukee County Parks, leaving that job in 2021. Meanwhile, in 2015 he took a second, part-time job as a member of the Town of Waterford Police Department, where he served until being suspended by the town in May of this year.

Adding more jobs and complications, Nelson served for two, three-year terms as an alderman on the Franklin Common Council before running successfully for mayor in 2023, defeating longtime incumbent Steve Olson. This would mean that for four years, he held three jobs, as a manager for county parks, Waterford police officer and Franklin alderman.

Someone is now seeking records of Nelson’s work as a deputy sheriff before his departure. And Nelson seeks to stop this.  “The disclosure of the information could result in irreparable harm to Nelson’s reputation,” the complaint states."

Nelson has filed the following lawsuits to prevent the disclosure of his Milwaukee County employment file and results of 9 internal investigations:

August 27, 2024 - Nelson names Sheriff Denita Ball, Captian James Novtony and Milwaukee County to block the 9 internal affairs investigations and employment file request by member of the public.

November 6, 2024 - Nelson files against Milwaukee County Clerk, Milwaukee County Human Resources Officer and the Human Resources Operations Manager to block the release of his county personnel file and disciplinary record from a member of the public.

November 15, 2024 - Nelson files against the Town of Waterford and the town's clerk Tina Mayer to withhold records pertaining to the Waterford investigation 

November 21, 2024 - Nelson names Sheriff Denita Ball, Captian James Novtony and Milwaukee County to block the 9 internal affairs investigations and employment file request by another member of the public.

What has not been reported by the local media is On April 22, 2024 - The publisher of Franklin Community News filed an open record request for Nelsons Milwaukee County Personnel file and internal investigation.  Nelson also filed suit and named Milwaukee County Clerk, Milwaukee County Human Resources Officer and the Human Resources Operations Manager to block the release of his county personnel file and disciplinary record from Franklin Community News (FCN).

FCN reported on October 15, 2024 "Franklin Mayor Nelson Bribes Publisher to Retract Open Records Request for Personnel File from Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department".  The article describes in detail how Nelson bribed the publisher of FCN to withdraw the open records request for Nelson County personnel file in exchange for access to the police department and and fake investigation into claims the publisher has been making for over a year.  The article clearly shows Nelson, as the Mayor of Franklin, misused City of Franklin resources including the Police Department for his own personal gain on an issue having nothing to do with the City of Franklin.

John Nelson what is it you are so desperately trying to hide from the public?  For the greater good of Franklin, pack your tent and move on, the truth will come out and you will be exposed along with the rest of your Rat Pack.  FCN is not going anywhere and will continue to expose the corruption, infestation, and stench at Franklin City Hall.