CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (NWN) — Chippewa County Prosecutors this week spoke out against sheriff Travis Hakes.
The five assistant district attorneys and district attorney Wade Newell, said Hakes did not uphold the standards of the office, saying “officers must avoid bias, corruption and personal gain and are expected to intervene in cases of misconduct by colleagues.” They said Hakes was placed on the county’s Brady List in 2023, which advises prosecutors an officer’s past actions may undermine their credibility in court cases.
In 2024, a majority of the county board passed a vote of no-confidence in Hakes, following a county investigation.
Hakes called the district attorneys’ statement a “last-minute political hit” and said he was targeted by politically-driven county investigations, which took his actions out of context.
Hakes, a Republican, is running for reelection this year.