Waushara County Sheriff accused of taking K9 funds after dog stopped working for the department

The Waushara County Sheriff has been ordered to repay the county $22,000 in funds he received for housing a police K9.

Walter Zuehlke was a K9 officer while he was a deputy for the sheriff’s department, and county policy was to give funds to K9 officers due to them keeping the dogs with them at their residences.

The K9 that was Zuehlke’s partner stopped working for the department after he became Sheriff in 2019, but he continued to receive the funds, failing to advise the county that dog was no longer taking part in department duties.

Zuehlke even continued taking the reimbursement after the K9 died in August of 2024. Once the oversight was discovered, Zuehlke paid back the $1200 he received after the dogs death saying it was an oversight on his part.

Zuehlke stated that he transitioned the dog to a public relations role in the office when he became sheriff.

The county hasn’t taken any legal action against Zuehlke, rather the county board voted 9-1 to allow him to voluntarily repay the $22,000 on his own, saying that would be the right thing for him to do.

At a previous board meeting, the members had asked county administration to refer the case to the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation division for prosecution, but attorneys said they didn’t believe they could prove within a reasonable doubt that there was an intention to defraud the county.

Zuehlke’s term as sheriff runs until the end of 2026. He hasn’t announced a decision yet if he would run again for the position at that time.