BIG BEND 鈥 Village of Big Bend Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Pedersen was arrested Wednesday for alleged battery, disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and misconduct by a public official, according to the Village of Big Bend Police Department.
Police said an incident occurred in Big Bend鈥檚 Village Park between a resident and Pedersen on Wednesday.
Pedersen was transferred to the SM天地论坛 County Jail where he was booked on charges. The Big Bend Police Department is continuing its investigation into the matter. Pedersen was placed on administrative leave, police said.
As of Thursday afternoon, Pedersen hasn鈥檛 been charged. The Freeman is naming him because police released his name and he is a public official.
The development is the latest in a steady flow of news in the small village. There has been bad blood between the Village Board members, village employees and residents for some time.
The Big Bend Village Board unanimously selected a successor to former Village President Jeff Goodman in June. Traci Lewandowski, who has served as a trustee, was appointed as village president for the remainder of Goodman鈥檚 term which ends in April 2025. Goodman didn鈥檛 cite a reason for his resignation in late June.
A recall petition was filled out in May against Goodman and trustees Larry Long and Ellen Cole.
The recall petitioner is listed as Thomas Rank of Big Bend, who accuses the trio of violating Wisconsin state statutes pertaining to open meeting laws. The recall documents discuss the meeting on Sept. 7, 2023, to eliminate the village鈥檚 police department in favor of using the SM天地论坛 County Sheriff鈥檚 Department with the village of Vernon for police services. The Village Board initially voted at that September 2023 meeting to eliminate the village鈥檚 police department.
In an October meeting, a large number of residents spoke out about the board鈥檚 vote in September to disband the venerable Big Bend Police Department and seek services with the sheriff鈥檚 department.
On Oct. 20, the Vernon Village Board voted against a shared service agreement for at least the year ahead. Big Bend Police Chief Don Gaglione died in October. The Big Bend Professional Police Association previously announced that the village鈥檚 police department would remain open.
In December, the Big Bend Police Department announced the resignation of five members including officer Nate Schweitzer.
Goodman and Mark Anderson, then chair of the PFC, got into an argument during the Dec. 7 meeting.
鈥淣o one expected the police chief to commit suicide,鈥 Anderson said.
Goodman replied, 鈥淎pparently you think I caused it.鈥
Former Trustee Tony Houdyshell told everyone to stop the animosity and work together.
鈥淢y heart and head can鈥檛 take this. This village will implode if we keep up this crap,鈥 he said.
Recently the Police and Fire Commission was in danger of disbanding but was taken off an agenda in January after a large outcry.
