The Third Branch
Barron County officials train in firearms surrender protocols
Earlier this year, a team from Barron County attended a Firearms Surrender Training Session in Weston, Wis. The training session, provided by the Office of Justice Assistance, was designed to assist counties in setting up protocols for the surrender of firearms in domestic abuse restraining order cases. Wisconsin law requires the surrender of those firearms, but the practical procedures for the surrender and compliance are not set forth in the statutes. Barron County was the only county in the state to send a full team of the recommended professionals. The team included Judge James C. Babler, Assistant District Attorney Maureen Boyle, Victim Witness Coordinator Mary Hogan, Sheriff's Detective Dave Kuffel, and Domestic Abuse Advocate Kristy Moran.
Subsequent to the training session, the team has met and agreed on a protocol for Barron County, which it hopes to put in place. The firearms surrender protocol is crucial to ensuring the safety of domestic abuse victims and police officers who respond to those domestic abuse situations. Barron County departments are committed to addressing this serious problem. It is only with the cooperation from all of the Departments involved that this can be a success, Babler said.