Early Retirement, Disability Plan for Jail Guards Moving at Wisconsin Capitol

Jail guards in Wisconsin could soon be able to retire early and receive disability benefits when they do. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on Tuesday heard from local sheriffs about SB 28, which would expand the Wisconsin Retirement System’s definition of protected employee to cover guards in local jails. “The jailer right now is the only link in the entire chain that is not protected,” Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner told lawmakers. “Our police officers are, our deputy sheriffs are, our probation officers are, our state prison guards are. But our jailers are not.”