Franklin Mayor Nelson Claims of 'Ridiculous and Baseless' Against Him Refuted

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. 

“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, 2024 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.”

FCN has received a public record and a police officer transcript from the Town of Waterford that debunk Nelsons message that his investigation in Waterford was a "Witch Hunt". Nelson was interviewed by WTMJ investigative reporter Ben Jordan yesterday April 24, 2025, Nelson claimed:

 “They were looking for anything they could do to slander us, to put us in a box, put us in a corner, and make us look terrible,”

“You’ve got no control as a police officer what gets put in your file,” Nelson replied. “So, as ridiculous and baseless of a complaint, that’s in there.”

“What’s going on now is an absolute hit-job character assassination attempt, number one,” Nelson said. “I’ve lived in this community my entire life. I was an alderman for six years, now the mayor for two. Judge me on the job I’m doing for your city, for our city, and where it’s going.”

 According to Jordan, "TMJ4 is now awaiting records from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, where Nelson worked for more than two decades. Nelson admits he was investigated for alleged sexual harassment and allegedly cheating on an exam while employed there. Nelson adamantly denies those allegations as well and says he was never disciplined."

In an email from a redacted Waterford patrol officer to former Town of Waterford Board Chair Teri Jendusa Nicolai on April 22, 2024, the patrol officer alleges the following against Nelson:

• "On April 22, 2023 Nelson was on buoy day for the Town of Waterford.  He was in the office the entire time.  What did he charge the Town for not leaving the office to "assist" buoy day on the water.  Which he received time and half for that April 22.  Should match my hours put in for that day."

• "He asked Janene and I to add 29 administration hours to the DNR yearly report December 1, 2023.  My question is how many hours has he charged the Town/Village for DNR water patrol hours? "

• "I have not only experienced verbal comments from both Lieutenants (Nelson), many of the other female officers also experience it.  Just verbal comments."

• "Like the other officers, I fear the communication will travel to their other jurisdictions and we will likely get expelled from their position." 

• I was advised by both Lieutenants (Nelson) I can not work the road because I was only hired to work the water patrol.  I have searched this in the contract and cannot find any verbiage on it.  

 In a recorded and transcripted in an interview with Town of Waterford part-time officer Brad Spieglhoff, conducted by Steven Riffel on August 1, 2024, an investigator, (retired police chief, and principle of Community Security Solutions) contracted with the Town of Waterford, Spieglhoff indicates the following:

 MR. RIFFEL:· Okay. Have you ever heard either Lieutenant Nelson or Lieutenant Jeschke make degrading remarks about women, to women, things like that.  

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Yes. 

MR. RIFFEL:· Okay, what have you heard? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Uh, mainly Nelson,·can't think of any Jeschke, but all third ·person.· So meaning that they talk about Nelson talks about women that aren't present. I hear that he said it in front of -- or to women, but I had never seen that.· I only hear him talk about degrading women that aren't  ·present at the time.

MR. RIFFEL:· Okay.· So what have you heard then he -- what is you -- what have you heard said?

 OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Just well, a couple for instance at I went out to eat a couple times with a group of people, and he would we're in a restaurant.· I remember this one specifically at, uh, Crossover, and he was talking about her ass and whatnot. And he was talking loud and there's civilians around.I said, Dude.· And I said  oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.· And he calmed ·down, or he lowered his voice.· But ...

MR. RIFFEL:· Anybody else? I mean, like 20 even civilian women? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Yeah, I mean, yeah, so he talked about women that are on calls, whether complimentary or anti-complimentary. Just, he's, you know, being years in the business, he's just a slimeball.· That's just -- right? We have all different kinds of officers in our careers, and he was just that. ·He's always been that way, slimeball, since I met him.

 MR. RIFFEL:· Where did he come from? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Well, he got chased out of Milwaukee County with because he ·didn't get along with David Clark, and then. 

MR. RIFFEL:· Oh, so he was a Sheriff's Deputy from Milwaukee County? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Yeah. 

MR. RIFFEL:· Okay.· So, would you describe this as an ongoing pattern? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· Yes, definitely. That's his MO, so to speak.

MR. RIFFEL:· Have you ever seen him try to pick up girls?

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· No, but he would talk about, you know, going out to the bars, and picking up women, and the things that he did. 

MR. RIFFEL:· Like what then? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Well, took them ·home, had sex with them.· I can't give you a ·specific, but, you know, this one was nasty, this one was blah, blah, blah.· I can't give you examples, but -- specific examples. 

MR. RIFFEL: Right. Do he ever show you pictures of these women, this one?· No pics?  

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: No, never -- never saw them. 

MR. RIFFEL: Did you ever point these girls out or women out at, like, events? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Yeah, so like, if I was working -- I never worked with River Rhythms, but if I was working, I might stop by ·and say hi or whatever, and then at times like that, he'd be like, look at that one over ·there.· You know?· Something, something. I can't even get an example, but a derogatory comment about a civilian or a civilian woman. That would be at the River Rhythm.· And then I just shake my head, and get back in my car and drive away because I don't want nothing to do with him.

 MR. RIFFEL: How about, did you ever overhear him in the office talking on the phone with his wife, or ex-wife, or him make comments about her? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: I mean, yeah, yeah, they'd get in yelling matches before they got ·divorced.· And then maybe like two or three conversations, I was -- I don't remember what the conversations were about.· But there was a lot of swearing and this and that while he was talking to her and yelling.· And he'd get done, you know, say something, blah, blah, blah, bitch, or something like that.

MR. RIFFEL: How about mayor duties?· Did you ever do mayor duties on duty on the phone?

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Yes. Consent. A lot, I should say.· A lot. 

MR. RIFFEL: Like what?· Can you give me examples of that? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Well, we'd be -- I'd·be in -- because I was the acting -- well, I was the investigator here.· So I'd be inside typing or typing up subpoenas, warrants, whatever.· So I was in the office a lot.· So, he would -- I'd hear him, you know, talking on his phone to constituents or other Franklin people about this problem or that problem, and then -- but if it was more specific, he would get up and go into the courtroom, and I could hear him talking about things. 

MR. RIFFEL: Does it -- do you think it happened every day? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: I think it would be very rare if it didn't.

MR. RIFFEL: Okay. So, I would ask normally what you think of this situation, but you kind of said he was a slimeball.· So, what made you -- in your professional opinion, because you've been an officer for a long time, what made you come to that conclusion?

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Well, just whenever he's talking about nonpolice things, I mean, he's typically talking derogatorily about women.· So, nearly not as it wouldn't be as rare to not talk about it as he was not working at Franklin, but it would be pretty rare of a day for him not to derogatorily talk about a woman that he dealt with at a traffic stop, or on a call, or something like that.· It would be, it would be rare for him not to. 

MR. RIFFEL:· You being in the office, did you hear him ever talk bad about the -- what, treasurer, the clerk, anybody in there? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF:· And not -- I can't specifically, no.· When they were starting to lose weight recently, you know, I think he made positive comments that, about that.· Meaning, you know, that they're looking better or something to that effect.· Because they -- they had a -- they challenged each other or ·something.· I'm not even sure.· But, anyway, they lost weight at the same time.· So, so he  ·made comments about that, about them losing weight, as a positive.

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: I think that it went on way too long, that he was doing Franklin stuff while he was here.·And that, that was annoying to see that on a daily basis. 

MR. RIFFEL: Do you think it affected his job performance here? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Yes, of course. 

MR. RIFFEL:· And how? In what regards? 

OFFICER SPIEGELHOFF: Because he would be -- when he'd get a call, I'm not saying he wouldn't go to those, but I think he wouldn't give the time that those calls needed, because he was busy dealing with a situation or whatever in Franklin.· So he would, you know, quickly deal with the -- I can't give you any specifics on this.· He would quickly deal with the call that he was sent on just to get done so he could continue helping there, working with there, making calls or whatever with Franklin.

EDITORIAL - Mayor Nelsons Says - Judge me on the job I’m doing for your city, for our city, and where it’s going.”

Let us start with campaign promises made by then-Candidate Nelson.  Listed below are all of the campaign "promises" made by Nelson quoted directly from his campaign web page :

To be frank: Current leadership has failed you and me. We need a change. That's why I'm running for mayor.

 

Current leadership rarely welcomes new or different ideas. Lots of bright and experienced officials and volunteers have walked away from City Hall as a result. They were exhausted and frustrated.

Current leadership often has facilitated or promoted obstruction, inefficiency and secrecy. Conflict, tension, ethics complaints and lawsuits have followed.

I am a professional law enforcement officer. I have the experience to develop and promote policies designed to keep Franklin families, seniors, children and businesses safe.

 

And, unlike current leadership, I won’t recklessly use my authority to manipulate the system to get my way.

 

And, perhaps most importantly, I will restore a positive structure at city hall for citizens, developers and employees alike. 

Then Candidate Nelson Said on his Web Page "We’ve heard many promises. However, if you've attended a city meeting, talked with a neighbor who has, or are aware of the rapid and concerning employee turnover at City Hall, you know Franklin’s image has suffered greatly and for far too long. I believe my skills, experience and temperament are better suited to raise our community to the next level." 

Pictured above County Supervisor Steve Taylor, Franklin Mayor John Nelson

 and Mike Zimmerman CEO ROC Ventures

Picture sent to former Mayor Steve Olson on election night of April 4, 2023 when election results were final.

Message sent - "Rat Pack" is now taking control of Franklin

Where do we start?  

What has current Franklin leadership 

done since April 2023,?  

Current leadership HAS failed the residents of Franklin.  

The current leadership has sold out the residents of Franklin to the Franklin "Rat Pack", Taylor, Nelson, and Zimmerman.  

We HAVE NO STANDARDS.  

The current leadership has failed you and me.  

Current leadership rarely welcomes new or different ideas.  

Current leadership often has facilitated or promoted obstruction, inefficiency, and secrecy. 

Conflict, tension, ethics complaints, and lawsuits have followed.   

Mayor Nelson has recklessly used his authority to manipulate the system to get his way.  

Mayor Nelson has not restored a positive structure at city hall for citizens, developers, and employees alike.  

It is alleged in transcripts, emails, and investigations Nelson is not trustworthy, is a womanizer, is vindictive, is a "creeper" and a "psychopathic preditor".

Nelson is afraid of transparency and does not want public records released, much less records that expose Nelson corruption.  He blocks "any body” from getting the file because he is afraid it will be put in the blog and made public".  "Look at the scandal". "Everybody cares".

If the above sounds at all familiar it is unfulfilled promises made by 2023 candidate Nelson on his campaign his web page and and claims Nelson made against this publisher in his own testimony.Direct from Nelson’s candidate webpage.

John, I cannot bring myself to give you the respect to call you mayor.  To answer your questions, you have done nothing for this community except to tarnish its good name with the personal allegations made against you by the Town of Waterford, offenses made with your own admission, and allegations that have been made that will be proved in time of your conspiracy to interfere in a residents due process and first amendment rights.  

Your involvement with corrupt business owners, politicians, and local leaders is the only thing you have made transparent.  For the good of Franklin move on so we can get a real leader who is not allegedly "bought and paid for", cares about the citizens of this city, cares about treating all business and developments the same and equal, and who is not beholden to a few.  

John, move on For THE GREATER GOOD OF FRANKLIN so we can restore integrity.  

You are a disappointment to the citizens of Franklin who voted for you and those that did not vote for you, but had hope in you.  Thank you for your service, John.