Racine County, Wisconsin – The Racine County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Captain Cary Madrigal has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation involving a separate individual and an internal administrative review of her conduct.
Official statement
Lieutenant Mike Luell told FOX6 on Saturday, Nov. 7, that the leave is “pending the outcome of a criminal investigation of another individual and a pending internal administrative review” of Captain Madrigal’s actions. He emphasized that the investigation does not focus on Madrigal herself.
Reason for the leave
According to the office, as soon as outgoing Sheriff Christopher Schmaling learned relevant information, he transferred the case to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office to “ensure” the integrity of the investigation. The sheriff’s office statement did not provide further details about the circumstances that led to the administrative leave.
Related criminal case
Earlier in the week, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office took over an investigation that resulted in the charging of 51‑year‑old Thomas Johnson, the district administrator at Union Grove High School, with two counts of child pornography possession. The criminal complaint states that investigators received an anonymous tip alleging inappropriate contact with current or former students. Separate cell‑phone downloads yielded two photos that formed the basis for the arrest.
The complaint also notes that Johnson told investigators an unnamed Racine County Sheriff’s Office employee visited him on Oct. 22, four days before investigators arrived at his residence. The complaint reads, “Thomas confirmed that he spoke with this RCSO subject about this investigation, prior to them speaking with him at his residence. This shows that Thomas had been told of the investigation involving him before it was assigned to RCSO Investigators.”
Requests for comment
FOX6 has reached out to the Racine County and Kenosha County sheriff’s offices, as well as the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, to determine whether Captain Madrigal is connected to the child pornography investigation. The outlet also attempted to contact Captain Madrigal for comment but has not received a response.
Context for local residents
The administrative leave of a senior law‑enforcement official underscores the county’s commitment to transparency and due process. By involving the neighboring Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, Racine County officials aim to avoid any appearance of conflict and maintain public confidence in the investigation’s fairness.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official sheriff‑office releases and local news updates as the situation develops.
Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.
