04-04-2025
New Berlin police sergeant charged with misconduct in alleged drug theft at police station
NEW BERLIN - A 20-year New Berlin police veteran allegedly took narcotic drugs stored for the department's K9 training program, resulting a felony misconduct charge Wednesday amid his ongoing suspension.
In addition, Sgt. Steven Dodson, 45, who's been on administrative leave since December, was arrested for suspected drunken driving Tuesday while in possession of his gun, and will face an additional charge of having a firearm while intoxicated, a misdemeanor count.
The New Berlin Police Department spelled out both allegations in a news release Thursday afternoon that for the first time revealed an 11-month investigation in 2024 stemming from the drug theft. But the criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court provided more details, including what drugs were taken and why Dodson was suspected during that investigation.
According to the complaint:
The drugs — 28 grams each of black tar heroin, cocaine base, cocaine HCI and heroin HCI, plus 14 grams of methamphetamine — were discovered missing on May 7, 2024, from a secure storage area. Those narcotics, issued by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in September 2022, were used in the training of police dogs, in this case New Berlin's K9 program run by another officer and a separate dog handler. The DEA-issued drugs had last been used for training in November 2023.
After the drugs were discovered missing, New Berlin authorities asked the Waukesha Police Department to conduct an impartial investigation into the theft.
Surveillance tools showed Dodson as having been near the property room where the drugs were stored 12 times between December 2023 and April 2024. New Berlin police officials said it's an area which Dodson had no authorized reason to access.
New Berlin police also suspected Dodson as a result of an incident in Mukwonago, where he lives. Police and rescuers found Dodson unconscious inside his vehicle on East Wolf Run Road after an apparent drug overdose in August 2023, forcing them to administer Narcan to revive him.
Through a review of medical records, investigators said they found evidence that Dodson had been taking excess amounts of Vicodin and Gabapentin beyond what had been prescribed for back pain and may have obtained painkiller drugs that were laced with cocaine and fentanyl. The investigation also showed his inability to fill Gabapentin refills coincided with the period between November 2023 and April 2024 when the DEA-issued drugs were believed to have been taken.
Dodson was placed on administrative leave in December following the 11-month investigation.
It's not clear why the criminal charges were filed more than three months after the investigation concluded, and what role the drunken driving-related incident played in the timing.
Dodson made his first appearance Wednesday on the misconduct in public office count.
A separate criminal complaint focused on the April 1 incident, in which Dodson's pickup truck was found stuck in a ditch near Interstate 43 and Racine Avenue at 2:20 a.m. The truck had front-end damage, which authorities believe was tied to a hit-and-run accident earlier that evening involving a traffic pole in West Allis. According to the complaint, Dodson was unable to stand on his own and failed sobriety tests. His gun was found loaded in the center console of his truck.
If convicted on the public office misconduct count, he could face as much as a 3½-year prison term and a $10,000 fine. Because the intoxicated gun possession charge was a separate incident, he could face additional penalties if convicted.
In a statement included in the news release, the New Berlin Police Department said it was "saddened" by the alleged incidents and is still processing their impact.
"It is vital the public understands the NBPD takes allegations of this kind seriously and will hold officers accountable if they are found to have violated Department Rules or state law," the department said in the statement. "We also respect that Sgt. Dodson is allowed due process both as a criminal defendant and as an employee of the City of New Berlin. We request that the public respects his rights and has patience while the process plays out.
"We recognize the disappointment this case may cause our officers and community members," department officials added. "Let us be unequivocal — this is not who we are. The officers of the NBPD remain dedicated to serving this community with honor and professionalism, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that trust is restored and maintained."
Dodson's attorney, listed as Michael Steinle, in online court records, was not immediately available to comment late Thursday. Dodson is currently free on a $1,500 cash bond.
Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Berlin cop charged with public misconduct in K9 drug theft
