The Marathon County Bomb Squad was created in 1982.

Bomb Squad members receive specialized training from the FBI's Hazardous Devices School where they learn how to operate specialized tools, and learn specialized tactics to respond to hazardous devices including improvised explosive devices (IED's), bombs, and incendiary devices.  Bomb Squad members are also trained to dispose of large amounts of commercial and consumer pyrotechnics (fireworks) and ammunition.  Bomb technicians receive training in chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) hazards.  The Marathon County Bomb Squad is one of few regional ALERT Bomb Squads in the State of Wisconsin and serves approximately 30 counties in northern, western, and central parts of the state. 

In 2018, the Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART) was formed in partnership with the Marathon County Sheriff's Office and North Central Health Care (NCHC). The team is composed of deputies & officers trained in Crisis Intervention working with crisis professionals from NCHC. Today, the partnership exists between the Wausau Police Department, Marathon County Sheriff's Office and NCHC.

CART works with patrol deputies and officers responding to calls for service for those in crisis. CART deputies and officers along with their crisis worker partner help those of all ages in a mental health crisis and meet them where they are at; their home, the community, work; wherever you need us.

The Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) was formed in 2001. The purpose of the Crisis Negotiations Team is to facilitate a peaceful resolution to emergencies such as hostage situations, barricaded subjects, and suicidal subjects. Team priorities are preservation of life, apprehension of criminal suspects, and recovery and protection of property. The team consists of members from the Sheriff's Office Corrections, Communications, Investigations, and Patrol Divisions, and they work closely with the S.W.A.T. Team.

The Marathon County Sheriff's Office Dive Team is the only professionally equipped, trained, and experienced public safety dive team in Marathon County. The team provides dive support to all fire and law enforcement agencies in Marathon County. Furthermore, the team fulfills the Sheriff's statutory responsibility to recover bodies and objects in the waters of Marathon County.

The team is comprised of sworn and non-sworn personnel from the Patrol, Investigations, and Corrections Divisions.

The team performs the following functions:

• Body search and recovery
• Evidence search and recovery
• Surface rescue
• Underwater crime scene investigation
• Underwater vehicle/object salvage

The team has the following capabilities:

• All-season, all-weather diving
• High line diving
• Current diving
• Vehicle salvage (up to 1 ton)
• Completely mobile operations

The Marathon County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard was formed in 1995. The team is a highly visible unit which has represented the Office at many local and state functions as a Color Guard and Rifle Team. The members of the Honor Guard are assigned special ceremonial uniforms, which have gone through numerous upgrades over the years.

The Honor Guard has had the privilege of performing the traditional 21-Gun Salute at the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in 1996, 2001, 2005, and 2012 . In addition, members of the Honor Guard took part in the posting of colors at the Dedication Ceremony for the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial at the State Capitol.

The Honor Guard is comprised of sworn personnel from the Patrol and Investigations Divisions.

The Honor Guard has experience in the following:

• Funerals & ceremonies honoring fallen comrades
• Casket watches at law enforcement funerals
• Flag Raising / Posting of Colors at official events
• Traditional 21-gun salute at local and state-wide memorial ceremonies

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit was officially started in 2013. The K9 unit is funded solely through donations and fundraising efforts.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office currently has four K9 teams.  The K9’s and their handlers train together for approximately 5 weeks at an approved kennel prior to working with in Marathon County. Upon completion of training and certification, the K9’s and their handlers are assigned to the Patrol Division .

The K9’s are dual purpose trained in various patrol functions as well as in narcotic detection.  These patrol functions include tracking and searching for lost, missing/endangered people, as well as locating criminal suspects. The K9’s also have the ability to conduct article searches to find evidence. The K9’s are loyal to their handlers and are trained to protect them.  The K9’s are often relied upon to perform sniffs of vehicles, buildings, and other areas where narcotics may be concealed.

The Marathon County Sheriff's Office gives thanks and is appreciative to all of those who support and help make the K9 unit a success.

The Marathon County Recreation Deputy Program started in 2020. This program is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and the Wausau & Marathon County Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department.

Duties of the Recreation Deputies include:

• Patrolling ATV/UTV trails and routes, snowmobile trails, rivers, lakes, and recreation areas to enforce state laws and county ordinances.
• Teaching ATV/UTV, snowmobile, boating, and hunter safety courses.
• Enforcing county ordinances at county park and forest lands and the Mountain Bay State Trail to include compliance checks of campsite registrations, boat launch permits, bike passes, and ski passes. Issuing violation notices, warnings, citations, and investigating various complaints.
• Coordinating enforcement efforts between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Sheriff’s Office patrols on Marathon County waters and snowmobile trails.

SafetyNet Tracking's goal is to save lives by locating missing persons who suffer from Alzheimer's, children with Autism, persons with developmental disorders, or other high risk wanderers.

Individuals enrolled in the program wear a wristband that emits a tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. When caregivers notify local law enforcement that a person is missing, a specially trained search and rescue team responds to the area and the search begins using the mobile tracking system. Search times are reduced from hours and days to an average time of less than 30 minutes. This system not only saves search time and resources, but gives families peace of mind and could ultimately save a life.

As of June 2009, SafetyNet Tracking has been involved in over 1,900 searches nationally with a 100% success rate. The program allows wandering and lost individuals to be found within minutes instead of the dangerous hours and days it often takes to locate missing persons without this technology. This program enables local law enforcement to better serve and protect members of our community who are at risk of wandering.

Eligibility:

1. Must be a Marathon County resident and,

2. Have a diagnosed condition with a history of wandering

Process:

1. An initial assessment is conducted to determine eligibility

2. Once approved, the enrollment paperwork will be completed and the SafetyNet Tracking bracelet will be set up by a Sheriff’s Deputy. Enrollment paperwork can be completed on line at https://safetynettracking.com/.

3. Staff will make monthly visits to ensure equipment is working properly and to change the battery.

SafetyNet Tracking Information (PDF)

Marathon County Sheriff's Office Contact: Deputy Brian Campbell - 715-261-1200

The Marathon County Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. Team was established in 1980. The team's primary functions are the response to high-risk tactical situations, armed/barricaded suspects, hostage situations, and the service of high-risk arrest/search warrants within Marathon County.

This multi-agency team is comprised of sworn officers from the Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Wausau Police Department, Everest-Metropolitan Police Department, Wausau Fire Department, and Aspirus Medivac. Assignment to the team is voluntary and subject to a selection process. The assignment is in addition to a deputies primary duties.

In 2015, The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office formed the Tactical Communications Team.  The primary purpose is to provide continuity of operations in the event of personnel displacement from the Communications Center. The Tactical Communications Team can supplement or take over critical radio and phone operations of the Communications Center in the event of an evacuation or significant equipment failure.

The secondary focus of the Tactical Communications Teams is to work alongside other special team units when needed to provide on-scene communications support for the Incident Commander for critical incidents or be deployed for pre-planned special events.   The Tactical Communications Team can alleviate the Communications Center's excess radio traffic and phone calls related to an incident, allowing the Communications Center to continue with normal operations.  The team is comprised of select Communications Staff trained in the FEMA ICS - Incident Tactical Dispatcher position (INTD).