Darien president under investigation
Photo 
Robert Metzner
DARIEN — Walworth County sheriff’s deputies are investigating whether Darien Village Board President Bob Metzner impersonated a police officer, according to court documents.
Deputies have conducted several interviews and March 12 confiscated shirts and a jacket from Metzner’s house at 340 W. Beloit St., Darien, according to court documents.
The investigation was the result of complaints made in late January and early February by former village board member Shane Spoo and Darien Police Chief Steve DeVoy, documents indicate.
Metzner told The Janesville Gazette the complaints were unfounded and he had nothing to hide.
According to court documents:
-- Spoo told detectives Metzner “bragged” to Spoo about interviewing a juvenile suspect in a burglary case and getting her to confess to a crime.
The juvenile later told detectives that Metzner identified himself as a former police officer who is currently the village board president.
-- Spoo told detectives that Spoo’s hairstylist said she’d heard Metzner refer to himself as the village police chief.
Detectives interviewed the stylist and another salon customer. The women confirmed that they talked to Metzner, but their descriptions of the way he identified himself did not match.
-- DeVoy told detectives Metzner wears polo shirts with embroidered badges and the words “Village President Robert Metzner.” Metzner also has a black satin jacket that says “Village of Darien Police", DeVoy told deputies.
Detectives took the shirts and jacket, according to the search warrant return.
-- A village store clerk told detectives Metzner “flashed” his wallet at her as if it were a police badge when she questioned his authority over the police department.
The clerk could not say if she saw a badge, and the sheriff’s office did not confiscate one, according to the search warrant return.
Metzner worked as a police officer in Florida, he told the Gazette in previous campaign interviews.
He faces a challenger for his seat as village board president in the April 7 election.
Metzner and the other members of the village board are scheduled to appear in court on charges that they violated the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law.
DeVoy has been suspended with pay since Dec. 1. On March 7, village board members voted to fire DeVoy. A hearing is pending but has not been scheduled.
The board will meet in closed session at 7 tonight to learn more about the situation.
Apr 15, 2009 at 6:59 p.m.
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JohnDoe
Apr 2, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.
Suggest removal klick...ya...I think jja filed an open records request for those documents. At least that's what I heard at the diner.
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JohnDoe you should remember we met 3 times at the Diner or do you have Brain fade.
Apr 8, 2009 at 9:52 p.m.
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JohnDoe do you want to know where i live '
i live in a house with a roof on it about 5 blocks from the corner of walk and don't walk
around the corner by the A&P store.
Apr 8, 2009 at 9:45 p.m.
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JohnDoe ssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell anyone
Apr 7, 2009 at 11:44 p.m.
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And now you can add rockpile to his aliases...
Apr 7, 2009 at 11:42 p.m.
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turboguy...
klick and jja are one and the same...
Apr 6, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.
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turboguy
Apr 4, 2009 at 9:40 p.m.
Suggest removal JohnDoe and Klick please share more. The struggle against the Good Old Boys can sure use your help, this is getting ridiculous.
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Please enlighten us with your knowledge of things....
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turboguy i have no idea what johndoe is talking about..
Apr 4, 2009 at 9:40 p.m.
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JohnDoe and Klick please share more. The struggle against the Good Old Boys can sure use your help, this is getting ridiculous.
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Please enlighten us with your knowledge of things....
Apr 2, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.
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klick...ya...I think jja filed an open records request for those documents. At least that's what I heard at the diner.
Apr 2, 2009 at 7:47 p.m.
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Has anyone requested credit card statements to see where Darien President, and other officials that has been spending your money. like 400.00 dinners that another community has uncovered ? somebody should think about this.
this sure will make some of the good ol boys mad.
Mar 29, 2009 at 9:31 p.m.
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"citizenofdarien Who is Shane Spoo's hairstylist?----------------------------------
Donald Trump
Mar 29, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
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Same thing goes for you Maltese.....
Mar 29, 2009 at 9:11 p.m.
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Remember Metzner you can run but ya can't hide .
Mar 21, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.
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Regina, you talked about it openly at board meetings - anyone in the room or on the sidewalk could hear you. This was long before December 1st. My point is that since you aren't Steve DeVoy or some other WCSO crony, they didn't sieze the opportunity to go after Metzner like they did when Steve brought these lame charges against him.
Mar 21, 2009 at 11:16 a.m.
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Hey cornchild you just told on yourself how did you know about the charges? Maybe you were in on the private files on police office or was being fed buy the crooks?Or did the tooth fairy tell you? BUSTED.
Mar 21, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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No thats some more of your bull. The charges that I filed were lost when they crooked Devoy. The county could only found the one about asking for money that was put in place to hide the real charges.The stalking,names calling, threating and racial somehow got lost.The county is full aware of all this and if he ever pulls any of this again you will have to hold his hand.No need to hide your name everyone knows you and this shows the chicken you are and the fools you stand for. And as for Mike M I didn!t know he was in on the city bull intill last night. I guess I was wrong taking up for him. Several people at that meeting seen Metzner threaten me and you know it. The person he brought to the meeting will not stand up for him .
Mar 21, 2009 at 12:41 a.m.
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Okay, so they exercised due dilligence and we have yet to see if they found a smoking gun... or in this case a smoking badge. But I still have a hard time believing that Steve DeVoy suddenly grew a conscience about Bob Metzner's behaviour just before the election, when Bob was wearing the shirt at board meetings months ago. As for the jacket, if it supports the Darien PD, I'll buy one! I have a Packer jersey, but no one expects me in Green Bay anytime soon. When I said before if Regina complained, the WCSO wouldn't react so quickly, I forgot that Regina did indeed make specific allegations about Bob Metzner, and they were summarily dismissed; no interviews, no warrants, no searches, and no press coverage. Where was the due dilligence then?
Mar 20, 2009 at 3:10 p.m.
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I've had it happen to me, where one politician thinks they or their relative shouldn't be investigated because, they say, the complaint is "politically motivated." The possibility that a complaint is politically motivated does no relieve the law enforcement officer of the obligation to investigate. (see the Code of Ethics that ResponsibleCitizen posted)
Mar 20, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
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Well said copperguy. The big problem is b.m. removed both officers that were working on charges before county got them.They think they got Chief but I hope he has a bird in his pocket and most Chiefs I know don!t put everything out for the crooks to get.He was on to them so I bet he has a trump card.
Mar 20, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.
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Cornchild: There have been many allegations made concerning Mr. Metzner on these forums alone. If any of those made it to a formal complaint with the WCSO, then I believe the SO would have an obligation to investigate.
As for the search warrant, I'm not sure if people understand what is required to get one. First, the investigator must have reason to believe that a crime has been committed. Second, the investiagtor prepares a sworn affidavit showing the reason for the suspicion, what s/he is looking for and where, as well as why s/he believes it will be found there.
The invstigator then presents the affidavit to the District Attorney. The DA will then review the affidavit to determine if a warrant is appropriate. If so, then the warrant is presented to the Circuit Court Judge. The Judge then determines whether or not the warrant should be issued. (There will be some variation in the exact steps/people involved, but this is the general procedure.)
So, to get a warrant, the investigator, DA, and Judge must ALL believe it is needed to obtain evidence. Based on what has been presented in the articles, it sounds like more than one person has provided information to WCSO...specific information in fact. Information on which they had an ethical and/or legal obligation to act.
Mar 20, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
Mar 20, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
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http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/mar/20/...
Mar 20, 2009 at 9:25 a.m.
Mar 20, 2009 at 1:40 a.m.
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Who is Shane Spoo's hairstylist?
Mar 20, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.
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Okay, so I wanted to poke a stick into the hornets' nest. No one asked me to do it. Why is it irrational to believe that Steve DeVoy did something wrong? And tell me that Steve isn't using his connections to make trouble. Would the WCSO have executed a warrant on the VP based on Blacktaz's (Regina's) word? I don't think so.
And the pro DeVoy/anti-Metzner bloggers have no contact with Steve, Right? I am guessing that Steve is online, as well as several proxies.
And.... how come we're not talking about one of the more disturbing facts presented in this article: Shane Spoo has a hairstylist????
Mar 19, 2009 at 10:38 p.m.
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cornchild - if I promise you can keep your anonymity will you tell who wanted you to write that?
Geez, the corruption is way over the top in this berg.
Yup, lots of scrambling by the corrupt people. Villagers, do yourself a favor.
Vote for who you want - just NOT for Putman or Metzner or you will pay dearly.
Mar 19, 2009 at 10:06 p.m.
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I have to agree. The Good Old Boys are scrambling with fear now since the sheriffs are onto them, so they are using useless peons to lash out for them.
Mar 19, 2009 at 9:57 p.m.
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WOW, why the "online porn" comment? Seems like a real cheap shot to me.
Mar 19, 2009 at 9:55 p.m.
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I have seen your irrational comments before, cornflake. Have you reason to fear the Walworth County Sheriffs? or are you speaking for your friends who have fear?
They SHOULD have fear.
This nonsense has gone on for long enough and the people of the village are no longer willing to be victims of the old boy cartel.
The jig is up, lady!
Mar 19, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.
Mar 19, 2009 at 4:50 p.m.
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Yes, they met Monday night in open session, however, this Thursday night is another closed session meeting at the library, 7:00 p.m. Probably trying to dig up more dirt or charges on DeVoy or another officer. VP will do anything to keep the heat off him!
Yes, BigBird...actions speak louder than words! Your "Golden Boy" is a real piece. At least CM acts out of passion for the citizens that he represents and elected him (with the MOST VOTES - AGAIN) I might add!
Mar 19, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.
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They just did Monday evening.
Mar 19, 2009 at 1:38 p.m.
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Does this Board ever get to meet in OPEN session anymore????
Mar 19, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.
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CallitasIseeit, good call. (Besides, I always thought Big Bird was a boy....)
Mar 19, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
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Its about time this loser gets investigated. If it wasn't for him and maltese, Darien wouldn't be having all the problems they are.
Mar 19, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.
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biggirl, it sounds more to me like the sheriff's department are investigating a possible crime. The basis for such investigations typically involves one or more complaints received by citizens. If the complaints turn out to be unfounded, they move on to the next case. If however, the investigation does in fact reveal violations of the law, charges are referred to the district attorney's office.
Mar 19, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.
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Police harassing an elected official??? Another "quality" post by biggirl. This guy is an idiot. I have never met or seen him but his actions reported in the paper and the fact he wears polo shirts with his name and title on it and a "black satin jacket" I really don't need much more information to make that assessment.
Mar 19, 2009 at 8:20 a.m.
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It sounds like the police are harassing an elected official. On what basis are such investigations to be done?
Mar 19, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
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thanks for looking into this Ann!
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