By Dr. Richard A. Busalacchi
Publisher, Franklin Community News
A new lawsuit filed this week by the Wisconsin Transparency Project is once again placing the Town of Waterford Police Department’s timekeeping records under judicial scrutiny—and, in doing so, has renewed attention on the very categories of records that investigators examined during the department’s high-profile internal investigation involving current Franklin Mayor John Nelson.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Town of Waterford Supervisor Robert Ulander filed a public records lawsuit in Racine County Circuit Court seeking the release of police officer schedules and time cards through late 2025. According to the complaint, Ulander wants to review the records for discrepancies involving officer work schedules, payroll reporting, special-event assignments, and whether the Town was properly reimbursed for police services provided to the Village of Waterford.
Circuit Judge David W. Paulson promptly issued an order directing the Police Department to either produce the requested records or appear at a hearing on August 11, 2026, to explain why the records should remain withheld.
In announcing the lawsuit, Attorney Tom Kamenick, President and Founder of the Wisconsin Transparency Project, said the request is about government accountability.
“The Town Police Department claims a laundry list of bad things will happen if these records are released. But none of them happened when the Town released the same records in the past.”
Supervisor Robert Ulander said public oversight requires access to those records.
“Prior to this police chief, I was able to get these records without difficulty and used them to identify officers claiming time when they weren’t actually working, working special events the Town is not supposed to pay for, and performing duties different than what they were scheduled for without authorization.”
Ulander also said the records are necessary to ensure the Town is receiving appropriate reimbursement for police services provided to the Village of Waterford under the municipalities’ service agreement.
Why This Lawsuit Matters Beyond Waterford
At first glance, the lawsuit appears to be a straightforward dispute under Wisconsin’s Public Records Law.
But for those who have followed the events surrounding the Town of Waterford Police Department over the past several years, the request involves much more than access to employee schedules.
The lawsuit seeks many of the same categories of records—time cards, schedules, payroll documentation, and records related to compensated work—that investigators examined during the Town’s extensive internal investigation involving then-Lieutenant John Nelson, now serving as Mayor of Franklin.
Importantly, the current lawsuit does not accuse Mayor Nelson of wrongdoing, nor is he a party to the case. Instead, it seeks records from the same department where investigators previously questioned Nelson under oath about payroll administration, officer scheduling, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reimbursement reports, and administrative hours associated with the department’s boat patrol program.
That historical connection helps explain why today’s records dispute extends beyond a routine public-records request.
The Records Behind the Investigation
Franklin Community News obtained and reviewed the complete 361-page transcript of Nelson’s investigative interview.
The transcript reveals that investigators devoted substantial attention to:
- payroll administration;
- officer scheduling;
- timekeeping records;
- Wisconsin DNR reimbursement reports;
- administrative hours;
- grant-funded activities;
- overtime reporting; and
- supervisory approval of reimbursement documentation.
During the interview, Nelson acknowledged that his responsibilities included payroll and scheduling.
“I would handle things from payroll, scheduling…”
That testimony is significant because the current lawsuit seeks access to the very types of records that fell within those supervisory responsibilities.
The Records Behind the Headlines
For many Wisconsin residents, the Waterford Police Department became synonymous with controversy.
Over the past several years, news reports documented internal investigations, employee complaints, officer resignations, litigation over public records, and ultimately the Town’s decision to dissolve its police department.
Today’s lawsuit does not revisit those events directly.
Instead, it asks a different question:
Should the public have access to the records that document how officers were scheduled, how their time was recorded, and how taxpayer-funded work was reported?
Those questions closely mirror issues examined during Waterford’s internal investigation involving then-Lieutenant John Nelson.
Franklin Community News reviewed the complete 361-page transcript of Nelson’s investigative interview, conducted as part of that investigation.
The interview reveals that investigators devoted substantial time to reviewing payroll administration, officer scheduling, boat patrol operations, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reimbursement reports, administrative hours, and supervisory approval of payroll-related records.
Early in the interview, Nelson acknowledged that those responsibilities fell within his supervisory role.
“I would handle things from payroll, scheduling…”
That testimony is noteworthy because the records sought in the current lawsuit—time cards and schedules—are the same types of records investigators questioned him about during the administrative investigation.
Questions About Payroll and Administrative Hours
One of the most detailed portions of the investigative interview centered on Waterford’s annual DNR boat patrol reimbursement program.
Nelson explained that, as lieutenant, he was responsible for coordinating much of the program, including scheduling officers, overseeing buoy installation and removal, preparing monthly reports, and signing annual reimbursement documents submitted to the State of Wisconsin.
Investigators then turned to what they described as a discrepancy between monthly reports and the year-end reimbursement request.
According to the investigators, the monthly reports reflected approximately 43.5 administrative hours, while the annual reimbursement submission reflected approximately 121 administrative hours—a difference of about 77.5 hours.
Investigators questioned Nelson about how that difference occurred and whether additional administrative hours had been added before the final reimbursement request was submitted.
Nelson rejected the suggestion that he directed anyone to falsify records.
Instead, he repeatedly stated that his goal was to ensure the reports accurately reflected legitimate reimbursable work.
At one point, he explained that he wanted the reports to “jive” with the work that had actually been performed.
He further stated that if legitimate administrative hours had not been included in the monthly reports, amended reports could have been submitted to correct the record.
Investigators responded that they had found no evidence that amended reports had been filed.
More Than a Payroll Review
The interview was not limited to accounting questions.
Investigators advised Nelson that they were examining a broad range of allegations concerning department operations and management.
According to the transcript, topics discussed during the interview included:
- payroll administration;
- officer scheduling;
- administrative reimbursement records;
- grant-funded hours;
- use of Town resources;
- campaign-related activity;
- workplace complaints;
- personnel management;
- alleged retaliation; and
- dissemination of confidential information.
Throughout the interview, Nelson disputed many of the investigators’ assertions and frequently challenged the credibility and motivations of those who had made complaints.
Nelson’s Public Response
When investigative records later became public, Nelson forcefully denied the allegations in interviews with several Milwaukee media outlets.
In a separate interview with WISN 12 News, Nelson characterized the investigation as “100% a witch hunt” and “a fishing expedition” designed to discredit officers. WISN reported that Nelson retired before the administrative investigation concluded and that several other officers also resigned or retired before their investigations were completed.
Speaking with TMJ4 News, Nelson described the investigation as “ridiculous and baseless,”calling it an “absolute hit-job” and a “character assassination.” TMJ4 also reported that the investigation included allegations involving inaccurate time records and conducting Franklin mayoral business while on duty in Waterford, allegations Nelson denied.
Later, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on a separate public-integrity investigation involving Nelson in his capacity as Franklin mayor after the unsealing of a search warrant relating to alleged misuse of public resources. The newspaper reported that Nelson denied wrongdoing and had not been charged with a crime at the time of publication and FCN has confirmed there is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the WestAllis Police Department on behalf of the Milwaukee County District Attorney of Public Integrity.
Why Today’s Lawsuit Matters
Supervisor Robert Ulander’s lawsuit is not about relitigating the Waterford investigation.
Nor does it allege misconduct by Mayor Nelson.
Instead, it seeks disclosure of records that may help answer broader questions about how the department documented employee work hours, scheduled officers, assigned special-event duties, and accounted for taxpayer-funded labor.
Attorney Tom Kamenick argues those records have been released before and that the Town has not demonstrated why they should now be withheld.
Whether the court agrees will be decided later this summer.
But the lawsuit underscores a broader principle behind Wisconsin’s Public Records Law: meaningful public oversight often depends not on press releases or official statements, but on access to the underlying government records themselves.
FCN Analysis
For Franklin residents, this lawsuit has significance beyond Waterford.
Mayor John Nelson has consistently maintained that the Waterford investigation was politically motivated and without merit.
The new lawsuit does not challenge that position.
What it does challenge is whether records documenting officer schedules, timekeeping, and payroll administration should remain hidden from public review.
Those are the same categories of records investigators considered important enough to examine during their interview with Nelson. Whether those records ultimately support or undermine concerns about departmental practices is precisely the type of question Wisconsin’s Public Records Law is intended to help answer through public access to government records rather than speculation.
Coming Next in The Nelson Files: Part Two will examine investigators’ questions regarding campaign activity, use of public resources, and other topics discussed during Nelson’s recorded interview.
This piece reflects the author’s personal opinion and experiences. All statements are presented as commentary protected under the First Amendment. Readers are encouraged to review public records, filings, and documented evidence referenced throughout this article.
Dr. Richard Busalacchi is the Publisher of Franklin Community News, where he focuses on government transparency, community accountability, and local public policy. He believes a community’s strength depends on open dialogue, honest leadership, and the courage to speak the truth—even when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.
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