2-19-15 waupun police chief says burglary case is “mind-boggling”

The Waupun police chief says he is relieved that a case involving A former officer has been resolved without going to trial.  As part of a plea agreement, former Waupun police officer Brad Young, pleaded no contest this week to burglaries in seven counties including Fond du Lac, Dodge and Green Lake.  Chief Dale Heeringa says the fact that Young admitted to 59 burglaries is mind boggling.  “I think its a great thing that its coming to an end.  This has been a major stress factor for our police department,”  Heeringa told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program.  “Its been two Augusts since he was arrested.  I sat in on the hearing in Green Lake County court and I was pleased at what was brought up, the judge is taking this  extremely seriously and looking at the whole picture.”   According to a criminal complaint Young told investigators he committed the crimes due to financial issues including gambling.  But Heeringa says he still wants to know why?  “This is something for myself wondering, the why is very important for me to know that,”  Heeringa said.  Heeringa says among the burglaries Young admitted to were three in Waupun.  Heeringa says he remembers talking with Young during the investigation of those burglaries. “We’ve got somebody in the department who knew they did the crime and was monitoring what was taking place.  That’s why this is so concerning.”