A Career of Resignations: Why John Nelson Was Unfit for Waterford Chief
📝 Editor’s Note
The Town of Waterford’s announcement of Captain Tim O’Neill as its new Police Chief has renewed public discussion about Franklin Mayor John Nelson’s record as a former Waterford Lieutenant. In light of that decision, Franklin Community News is publishing this review of Nelson’s career-long pattern of misconduct and resignation.
🔑 Key Points
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Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (1998–2011): Nelson was the subject of multiple internal investigations into harassment and misconduct. He resigned mid-investigation and sued to block the release of records.
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Waterford Police Department (2012–2024): Investigation transcripts show harassment of female officers, falsified hours, misuse of resources for his Franklin mayoral campaign, and retaliation against whistleblowers. Nelson resigned in June 2024 before the investigation concluded.
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Franklin Mayor (2023–Present): Misuse of office for developers, taxpayer-funded political interference through PR consultant Mary Christine, obstruction of records, and retaliation against critics—comparing residents to mass shooters at a public ICC meeting.
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Pattern: Across all three positions, Nelson has resigned while under investigation, misused public resources for personal gain, and retaliated against critics and staff.
The Story at a Glance
In Milwaukee County, he resigned while under investigation. In Waterford, he resigned while transcripts documented harassment, retaliation, and misuse of resources. In Franklin, he has turned city hall into a political machine—blurring the lines between public service and personal gain.
Waterford’s decision to hire Captain Tim O’Neill wasn’t just a routine appointment. It was a deliberate choice to embrace professionalism and integrity instead of repeating the mistakes of the past.
📜 Press Release (Town of Waterford, Sept. 5, 2025)
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Nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience, serving as Police Captain since 2009.
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Holds a degree in Criminal Justice (UW–Platteville) and advanced training from Northwestern University.
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Praised for mentoring staff, securing grants, and creating the department’s first K-9 unit.
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Town Chair Tim Szeklinski: “Captain O’Neill is a leader with strong commitment to public service and community trust.”
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O’Neill: “It is an honor to step into this role, and I am committed to leading with integrity, accountability, and respect.”
A Career in Three Acts
Nelson’s public service career began with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a deputy. What might have been a stable career in law enforcement quickly soured. Nelson became the subject of multiple internal affairs investigations into sexual harassment and misconduct.
County investigators sustained at least one complaint, and disciplinary action loomed. Instead of answering the charges, Nelson resigned in 2011 and immediately sued the County to block the release of his personnel records. His resignation meant the public never saw the full weight of the findings.
🚔 Waterford: A Toxic Command
At first, it appeared to be a fresh start. But by 2024, the department had reached a breaking point. Officers began speaking out, and an internal investigation was launched.
The transcripts are telling: female officers harassed and denied opportunities, administrative hours inflated for reimbursement, department resources misused to support Nelson’s Franklin mayoral campaign, and retaliation against those who reported wrongdoing.
Investigator Riffel captured the scope of the problem: “It’s not just one or two employees… it’s over a half dozen.”
Once again, Nelson did not stay to face accountability. In June 2024, with discipline looming, he resigned mid-investigation, repeating the same pattern from Milwaukee County.
🏛 Franklin:Politics Over People
He pressured staff to alter planning reports to help favored developers, assuring them he could “guarantee the votes.” He blurred city governance with campaign politics by awarding a $25,000 taxpayer-funded contract to PR consultant Mary Christine, who spent her time defending Nelson personally on Facebook and spinning his political narrative.
Transparency fared no better. Nelson denied open records requests with claims that “no records existed.” Yet nearly 100 emails later surfaced showing he used his WaterfordPD.com email account for Franklin campaign work.
Most troubling of all was his treatment of ordinary citizens. At a November 2024 meeting of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC)—a body of Milwaukee County mayors, village/town presidents and the Milwaukee County Executive,—Nelson compared Franklin residents critical of him to mass shooters from Columbine and Oklahoma City. He went further, admitting he was “satisfied” when one critic was cited, despite prosecutors rejecting state charges. That is not leadership—it is intimidation cloaked in public office.
⚖️ A Career Pattern of Avoidance
The through-line is unmistakable. At Milwaukee County, Waterford, and now Franklin, Nelson has treated accountability not as a duty but as something to evade. Investigations are met with resignation. Scrutiny is met with lawsuits. Criticism is met with retaliation.
In contrast, Waterford’s press release announcing Captain O’Neill highlighted integrity, accountability, and respect—values Nelson has abandoned at every stage of his career.
A Different Choice
By contrast, Waterford’s September 5, 2025 press release introducing Captain Tim O’Neill emphasized values Nelson has never upheld: integrity, accountability, and respect. O’Neill’s career was described as one of mentorship, transparency, and community service. His own words summed up the difference: “It is an honor to step into this role, and I am committed to leading with integrity, accountability, and respect.”
Conclusion: The Greater Good
The greater good is not served by leaders who resign in the face of accountability, who misuse public resources for private campaigns, or who treat citizens as enemies. The greater good demands integrity. It demands transparency. It demands leaders who build trust rather than destroy it.
Until Franklin insists on those standards, its people will remain in the shadow of a mayor whose legacy is not service, but escape.
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