Sex scandals snare St. Croix County workers

A police officer from the small town of Glenwood City, Wis., and two employees of the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office resigned last month amid allegations of sexual improprieties, according to public records released to the Eau Leader-Telegram via an open records request.

Joe Heath resigned Aug. 3 from the Glenwood City Police Department after an investigation indicated he had sex with a number of women, including at the police station. Heath, of Plum City, Wis., joined the Glenwood City department in 2003.

Erik Dunn and Erica Balcerek resigned from St. Croix County employment after reports indicated the two were involved in a sex act in a room off a hallway outside the clerk of courts office in June.

Those resignations come on the heels of a revelation in July that Hudson police officer John Worden resigned in May for spending about half his work time for personal business and admitting using police resources for nearly 100 sexual encounters while on duty.

Chief Robert Darwin declined this week to elaborate on the investigation that led to Heath's resignation, saying only that he initiated the probe in mid-June after hearing rumors about Heath's conduct.

Darwin expressed concern that Heath's actions tarnish the department and police in general.

St. Croix County sheriff's Investigator James Haefner and Lt. Cathy Borgschatz conducted the investigation of Heath, which indicates he had sexual contact with numerous women while he was on and off duty.

"The investigation was limited in numbers because we felt there was ample policy violations for the Chief Bob Darwin and Glenwood City to act in a disciplinary manner," according to the report.

One instance indicates Heath was having sex with a woman who was using methamphetamine and did nothing to report her use and did not notify her probation agent. That woman told her probation agent about the relationship with Heath, which triggered the investigation.

Reports indicate Heath, while on duty and wearing his uniform, attempted to pursue a sexual relationship with a woman, who said she later admitted to performing sex acts with him while he was off-duty because she felt pressured because of his job.

One woman said she had sex with Heath seven times between 2014 and 2015, five times while he was on duty, including in the Glenwood City police headquarters while he was in uniform and wearing a gun.

That same woman said Heath sent her up to 20 photos of his genitals, including some while he was on duty in his squad car.

Darwin, chief since 2003, said his office is in the process of filling the vacancy.

In the St. Croix County case, separation agreements between the county and Dunn and Balcerek indicate their resignations were effective Aug. 1. Both failed to conduct themselves to necessary standards, according to the agreements.

Sheriff John Shilts on Wednesday said an investigation started when word spread about a possible incident between the two in the court security office.

Dunn worked part time for the county until becoming a deputy, a process server and later a court services officer, all total about 10 years.