Matt Spence
Sheboygan County Sheriff
Protecting Our Community
Serving with Integrity
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to visit my website. I know how busy life can be, and I truly appreciate you spending a few minutes to learn more about me and the work we’ve been doing together. Serving as your Sheriff for nearly two years has been an honor, and I’m grateful for the trust and support our community has shown.
Over the past two years, we’ve focused on real, practical improvements that make a difference. We launched a combined co-responder mental health initiative to better support people in crisis, expanded protective and medical equipment for our deputies to respond safely and effectively, and introduced several wellness initiatives to support the men and women who serve our community every day. These efforts reflect my commitment to protecting our community and serving with integrity, today and into the future.
ABOUT
The "Why"
I’m running for Sheriff because our community deserves leadership that protects everyone, treats people with respect, and upholds the law fairly and consistently. I believe law enforcement should be professional, accountable, and guided by integrity.
My goal is simple: keep our families safe, support our deputies and employees, and serve this community with dedication every single day.
That’s what “Protecting Our Community. Serving with Integrity” truly means to me.
WHY CHOOSE SHERIFF SPENCE
Expertise
With 22 years of experience in law enforcement, I bring a broad range of expertise developed through service in leadership roles, patrol operations, and specialized tactical assignments. I have served as a tactical instructor, helping train and prepare officers to respond effectively, safely, and professionally in critical incidents. This combination of hands-on operational experience, leadership, and instruction has shaped my commitment to professional standards, accountability, and protecting the communities we serve.
Impact
My commitment to public service extends beyond the badge through active involvement in a variety of civic and community initiatives. Over the years, I have worked alongside community groups, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders to support programs that strengthen public safety, promote education, and build trust between law enforcement and the people we serve. Whether participating in community events, supporting volunteer efforts, or contributing to local committees and professional organizations, I believe strong communities are built through collaboration and shared responsibility. These experiences have allowed me to stay connected with the concerns of our residents and reinforce my belief that effective leadership begins with listening, engagement, and service.
Innovation
Innovation in public safety is essential to meeting the evolving needs of our community. Throughout my career, I have supported and implemented forward-thinking approaches that improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness of law enforcement services. This includes embracing data-driven strategies to guide operations, strengthening partnerships with community stakeholders, and supporting the integration of new technologies and collaborative programs that enhance public safety outcomes. By encouraging creative problem-solving and continuous improvement, I believe we can deliver modern, professional services while remaining focused on our core mission.
Goals
Highway Safety
Mental Health
Employee Retention and
Recruiting
As Sheriff, I will continue to empower our leadership to expand our highway safety initiatives by using data-driven strategies to target enforcement where and when crashes are most likely to occur. By analyzing traffic crash data, speed patterns, and high-risk corridors, we can deploy deputies strategically to deter dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations. This targeted approach maximizes impact while using resources efficiently, helping reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our roads. We will also strengthen partnerships with state and local agencies, support public education campaigns, and pursue grant funding for enhanced traffic safety efforts. Keeping our highways safe protects families, supports commerce, and saves lives.
As Sheriff, I will expand our response to the mental health crisis by strengthening our existing co-responder program, where a licensed mental health professional is already embedded alongside law enforcement. This ongoing initiative ensures that individuals in crisis receive compassionate, clinically informed care at the point of contact, reducing unnecessary arrests, improving de-escalation, and connecting people to appropriate services. By integrating public safety with behavioral health expertise, we can protect our community, support families in crisis, and treat mental health challenges with the professionalism and dignity they deserve.
We are in a position where we are blessed to have a very strong and supportive community of our public safety efforts. Despite that support we are in a position where we are experiencing staffing shortages causing extra workload and stress on our dedicated employees. As Sheriff, I will prioritize recruitment and retention by building a professional, supportive, and forward-looking workplace where employees feel valued, trained, and empowered to serve with integrity. My initiative will focus on competitive compensation, modern training and, clear career advancement pathways, and a culture of respect, accountability, and wellness. We will actively recruit diverse, high-quality candidates from our community, strengthen partnerships with schools, and invest in leadership development to retain experienced staff. By supporting our staff, we strengthen public safety, reduce turnover, and ensure consistent, professional service for every resident of our community.