Greenfield's embattled police chief, Jay Johnson, made headlines this week after his first court appearance on Monday, where he faces accusations of felony misconduct. According to WISN 12 News, Johnson is alleged to have used a police camera for personal surveillance during a time of "safety concerns stemming from his divorce."
Charged with turning police resources into a private security measure, Johnson's installation of a camera outside his home in Wind Lake has sparked controversy, as city officials had advised against such action. Despite these claims, Johnson's attorney, Jacob Manian, argued for dismissal, stating to the court, "At the end of the day, what you have in the complaint is the mayor authorizing the use of the camera, and my client going to the mayor because that is his direct report. He reports to the mayor," as reported by WISN 12 News.
Additional allegations against Johnson include threatening calls to the police department and menacing social media posts aimed at the acting police chief. CBS 58 reported Manian's view that the criminal complaint, the criminal complaint was argued to lack sufficient factual allegations to establish probable cause. However, the court denied the motion to dismiss, resulting in Johnson’s release on a $5,000 signature bond. He is scheduled for booking and release from Milwaukee County Jail and is expected to return to court later this month.
Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke has responded to the situation, indicating an ongoing internal investigation that seeks to dissect any violations of city "policy, rules, procedures, and expectations of conduct," as stated in Wisconsin Public Radio. "Although Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty of these criminal charges, they appear to be serious charges, and we do not take them lightly," Neitzke conveyed in a statement obtained by WISN 12 News. Johnson, with a history in the police department since 1992, rose through the ranks to be named police chief by the Greenfield Police and Fire Commission in 2019.
Now, with the potential of facing up to three and a half years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 for the felony misconduct charge, Johnson awaits the next step in the legal process. After the initial court appearance, his next court date is scheduled for November 24 for a preliminary hearing. Until the matter is resolved, he remains on paid administrative leave.
