Fort PD: Hefty named crisis team intervention officer of the year; Sachse promoted to captain

The Fort Atkinson Police Department has announced that School Resource Officer Daniel Hefty has been named Jefferson County Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. He was presented with the award Tuesday at the Fort Atkinson City Council meeting by a representative of the Jefferson County Human Services. The award was announced at the Jefferson County Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Banquet on January 27. 

In Addition, Lt. Brandon Sachse was ceremoniously promoted to captain by the Fort Atkinson Police Department Friday, receiving his double bars in a room of supporters. He was formally approved for promotion by the Fort Atkinson Police and Fire Commission on Jan. 26. 

Crisis team intervention officer of the year

According to a recent press release, The Jefferson County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year award is meant to recognize law enforcement officers who go above and beyond to assist residents with mental health and substance use issues. 

CIT training promotes finding solutions while reducing the stigma of mental illness, the need for force and involvement with the criminal justice system. The goals of CIT training are to improve officer and consumer safety and to redirect individuals with mental Illness from the judicial system to the health care system. 

CIT programs create connections between law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency services and individuals with mental illness and their families, the release stated.  

Through collaborative community partnerships and intensive training, CIT outcome data shows that communication improves mental health. Resources are identified for those in crisis and ensures officer and community safety. 

“We are thrilled to have such a great relationship with Jefferson County Human Services, which has been thoughtfully cultivated by Officer Hefty and (Police) Chief (Adrian) Bump and our other officers and command staff,” Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire was quoted as saying in the release. 

“About half of the audience was at the meeting to celebrate Officer Hefty’s receipt of this award. We are extremely proud of his efforts,” LeMire continued. 

In Jefferson County, Human Services has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness over the past 12 years to deliver the nationally recognized, 40-hour CIT training course for police officers. Seventeen of the 20 Fort Atkinson Police Department officers can proudly proclaim that they are NAMI trained and certified in crisis intervention, according to the release.  

Promotion 

“When I got here Brandon (Sachse) was a patrol officer, so we get to see someone go from patrol officer to detective to lieutenant and now to captain. It’s pretty exciting to see us develop our own people in house and bring them to the top and hopefully someday when I leave someone like Brandon or Brandon will be there to step in. That’s our goal,” said Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump within a recent press release. 

Bump renewed Sachse’s oath of honor Friday, which is seen on the wall of the police department.

“The Oath of Honor has a lot of keywords in it. It talks about honor, which means giving one’s word as a bond and guarantee,” Bump said. 

He also discussed how the badge is a visible symbol of the power the office holds by police officers. 

“Integrity is a firm adherence to our principles both in our private and public life. The word character is in there, it means the qualities and standards of behavior that distinguish an individual,” Bump noted. 

He continued to say the Oath of Honor discusses public trust. 

“It is a duty imposed and faith to those we are sworn to serve,” he said.

He mentioned courage and accountability saying the police force has to be answerable and responsible for its actions, the release noted. 

Captain Jeff Davis, on his last day working as a Fort Atkinson Police Officer, pined the new captain. 

Sachse, who was hired in 2008, thanked his wife for her support and said he appreciated the turnout, the release continued.

Sachse is a firearms instructor, Multi-jurisdictional Mobile Field Force Team lead, a member of the Regional Clandestine Lab Investigative Response Team and a Crisis Intervention Team officer. He was awarded Officer of the Year in 2014 by the Jefferson County Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association, the release stated.