NEW BERLIN — A 20-year veteran police sergeant faces felony charges after an 11-month investigation into missing drugs from the department’s K9 program.
Sgt. Steve Dodson of the New Berlin Police Department was charged Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with misconduct in public office.
Dodson was also charged with possessing a firearm while intoxicated following an arrest on Tuesday.
The investigation began in May 2024 when officials discovered a large amount of training drugs missing from the department’s K9 program.
The Waukesha Police Department conducted the criminal investigation to avoid conflicts of interest.
Dodson was placed on paid administrative leave on Dec. 17, 2024, after investigators identified him as a suspect in the theft.
The missing narcotics were provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration for controlled training purposes.
According to police, Dodson was not a member of the K9 unit.
The firearm charge stems from an incident on Tuesday when Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Dodson after he reportedly drove his personal vehicle into the median on I-43 near Racine Avenue.
Deputies determined Dodson was intoxicated and found a personally-owned handgun during a search of his vehicle.
The New Berlin Police Department has implemented enhanced security measures for drug storage following the breach.
