By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• A Wisconsin appeals court on July 30 overturned a December 2024 lower court ruling that had declared Act 10 unconstitutional, reinstating the 2011 law that eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public employees including firefighters.
• The 2-1 appeals court decision reversed Circuit Judge Jacob Frost’s determination that the law violated equal protection guarantees by creating exemptions for public safety workers.
• The law has remained in effect throughout the legal proceedings and will continue under the appeals court decision; unions are expected to appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled by liberal justices.
• Act 10, championed by former Republican Governor Scott Walker in 2011, limited public employees to bargaining solely over wage increases not exceeding inflation and required employees to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.
• All five Democratic gubernatorial candidates have pledged to repeal Act 10 if elected; the Democratic primary election is scheduled for August 11.

MADISON, WIS. — A Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling July 30 that had invalidated Act 10, the 2011 anti-union law restricting collective bargaining for most public employees. The 2-1 appeals court decision upholds the law’s constitutionality.

Circuit Judge Jacob Frost had ruled in December 2024 that Act 10 violated the Wisconsin Constitution’s equal protection guarantees because it provided exemptions for public safety workers while restricting bargaining rights for other public employees. The appeals court rejected Frost’s analysis.

The three-judge appeals court panel determined the law had a rational basis for treating public safety workers differently and that Frost lacked legal basis to declare the statute unconstitutional. The court stated it must respect legislative precedent and defer to the Legislature’s fiscal policy decisions.

Act 10 took effect in 2011 after enactment by the Republican-controlled Legislature amid significant public opposition. The law effectively eliminated collective bargaining for most public workers by restricting negotiations to wage increases no greater than inflation. The law also eliminated automatic union dues deductions, required annual union recertification votes, and mandated increased employee contributions to health insurance and retirement benefits.

The lawsuit challenging Act 10 was filed by seven labor unions and three union leaders in November 2023, three months after Wisconsin’s Supreme Court shifted from majority conservative to majority liberal control following the 2022 state Supreme Court election.

Christina Brey, spokesperson for the unions, stated the plaintiffs remain confident on the merits and are considering all available options. Brey emphasized that collective bargaining rights enable employees to participate in decisions regarding class sizes, workplace safety, working hours, and other conditions.

Former Governor Scott Walker, who introduced and championed Act 10, characterized the appeals court decision as a major victory for state taxpayers and elected officials.

All five Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor have committed to repealing Act 10 if elected. The Democratic gubernatorial primary election is scheduled for August 11.

The act sparked weeks of protests in 2011, with demonstrations drawing as many as 100,000 participants to the state Capitol. Walker used the legislation to achieve national political prominence and later launched an unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Appeals Court Judge Shelley Grogan issued a concurring opinion criticizing the lawsuit timing as “suspect,” noting it was filed immediately after the Supreme Court’s composition changed. Grogan wrote that efforts to attack Act 10 on previously rejected grounds simply because court composition changed “must be rejected.”

Appeals Court Judge Lisa Neubauer, the sole liberal judge on the three-judge panel, dissented, stating Frost was correct and that the Legislature made arbitrary distinctions by restricting collective bargaining for some public employees while exempting public safety workers.

Unions are expected to appeal the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently has a 4-3 liberal majority.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Eight members of a Grand Haven Township family, including a 47-year-old man, his wife, and their six children, were killed Friday in what investigators determined was a murder-suicide involving gunshots and intentional arson.
• Autopsies determined all family members—Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47; his wife Amanda, 39; and their six children ages 5 to 15—died from gunshot wounds, with Kristopher Karolkiewicz taking his own life.
• The residential fire was set intentionally in multiple parts of the home after the killings, with law enforcement initially responding to reports of a smoky smell and smoke observed coming from the residence.
• Amanda Karolkiewicz was an elementary school substitute teacher; Kristopher was employed as a vice president of sales and marketing by the American Heart Association.
• The family’s pets, including dogs and at least one cat, also perished in the fire; the incident remains under investigation with authorities still determining the exact origin point and timeline.

GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, MICH. — Investigators determined that eight family members found dead in a residential fire on July 25 were victims of a murder-suicide involving gunshot wounds, with the residence subsequently set on fire intentionally in multiple locations.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department released findings Monday stating that autopsies confirmed all family members died from gunshot wounds. Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, fatally shot his wife Amanda, 39, and their six children—ages 5 to 15—before taking his own life. The fire that destroyed the home appeared to have been set intentionally following the shootings.

Law enforcement received calls about a smoky smell in the area early Monday morning and conducted an initial investigation without locating the source. After receiving additional calls approximately three hours later, officers returned to the area, observed smoke emanating from the Karolkiewicz residence, and discovered the bodies. Investigators found at least some of the deceased in bedrooms. The fire also claimed the family’s dogs and at least one cat.

Amanda Karolkiewicz worked as an elementary school substitute teacher in the Grand Haven Area Public Schools system. Her family described her as “a kind and devoted soul who loved her family and her students.” Kristopher Karolkiewicz had been employed as vice president of sales and marketing by the American Heart Association since September 2023; his employment ended earlier in July. He worked remotely for the organization’s division responsible for CPR and first aid training and products. The American Heart Association declined to release additional details regarding personnel matters.

The couple met in 2008 while employed at a beverage company and married in August 2009. Their first child was born April 25, 2011. They subsequently had two additional biological sons and later adopted two daughters, with one additional biological son born afterward. Amanda Karolkiewicz maintained a parenting blog through 2016 and continued sharing family updates via social media video content.

Grand Haven Township is a community of approximately 18,000 people located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, approximately 30 minutes west of Grand Rapids. The Sheriff’s Department stated the investigation into the incident’s circumstances and exact timeline remains ongoing. A separate shooting incident occurred in Ottawa County early Sunday at the Bass River Recreation Area, injuring five people, with one victim critically injured and a suspect arrested.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Montgomery County’s Trust Act, which restricts state and local agency cooperation with federal immigration authorities, is facing renewed scrutiny following a July Potomac River water rescue conducted while Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting an enforcement operation nearby.
• Department of Homeland Security reported ICE agents detained two Mexican nationals present in the country illegally along the riverbank; a third person entered the river and remained missing after swimming across the waterway.
• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue crews responded to assess the scene and subsequently departed after determining no individuals remained in the water.
• The incident has prompted some county officials and residents to question whether the Trust Act should be reconsidered, while county leadership maintains that firefighters and EMS personnel remain focused on their primary life-protection mission during emergencies.
• The Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association criticized the response to the incident, arguing that focus shifted from first responders’ duty to protect lives to debate over immigration policy.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Montgomery County’s Trust Act limiting cooperation between state and local agencies and federal immigration enforcement authorities is drawing renewed scrutiny following a July water rescue operation on the Potomac River conducted concurrent with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement enforcement operation.

A July incident resulted in a situation requiring emergency response coordination during federal immigration enforcement activity. The Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE agents detained two Mexican nationals present in the country illegally along the Potomac River. A third individual entered the river and evaded apprehension by swimming across the waterway, remaining missing following the incident.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the scene to assess conditions and determine whether water rescue operations were necessary. Crews evaluated the river and surrounding area and determined that no individuals remained in the water before departing the location.

The Trust Act restricts cooperation between Montgomery County first responders and federal immigration authorities, establishing limitations on assistance with federal immigration enforcement operations. Despite these restrictions, fire and emergency medical services personnel retain responsibility for protecting lives during emergency situations and are required to coordinate with law enforcement during rescue operations connected to police activities.

County Councilmember Kristin Mink stated that the incident highlights the complexity of applying the Trust Act in unpredictable emergency scenarios. Mink expressed concern that focus on the incident had shifted from firefighters’ fundamental duty to protect lives to debate over immigration policy.

“I really don’t want the headline on this to be fire rescue broke the Trust Act,” Mink said. “What this scenario showed is that it’s going to be very hard to predict what type of circumstances we’re going to be faced with.”

The Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1664, sent correspondence to County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart criticizing the response characterization and arguing that focus should remain on first responders’ life-protection mission rather than immigration policy debates.

County officials have maintained that firefighting and emergency medical services personnel remain focused on their primary mission of protecting lives during emergencies regardless of circumstances surrounding an incident.

Mink clarified that her comments were directed toward county leadership rather than first responders, urging elected officials to consider how the Trust Act could affect law enforcement operations in other scenarios.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Norfolk is proceeding with plans to implement a fourth firefighter shift, committing $1.8 million to create 34 additional firefighter positions aimed at reducing average workweek hours from 52-plus to approximately 42 hours.
• The scheduling modification addresses documented health and wellness concerns, with union and department leadership citing burnout, cardiovascular risks, and mental and physical strain associated with extended 24-hour shifts under the current three-shift system.
• Norfolk launched a lateral recruitment process for certified firefighters from other agencies; the application period closed July 17 with an unexpectedly high volume of applicants from across the region and nation.
• The first lateral firefighter academy is expected to begin in November; Virginia Beach Fire Department is also considering similar staffing and scheduling changes, with Fire Chief Ken Pravetz requesting initial funding for a reduction from 56 to 48 hours in April.
• Virginia lawmakers approved legislation in 2026 encouraging localities to reduce firefighters’ workweeks to 42 hours, establishing a policy framework for similar initiatives across the state.

NORFOLK, VA. — The City of Norfolk is proceeding with implementation of a fourth firefighter shift designed to reduce overtime and address burnout among personnel working extended shifts under the current three-shift system.

The city has allocated $1.8 million to fund the creation of 34 firefighter positions. The new shift schedule is projected to reduce firefighters’ average workweek from 52 hours or longer to approximately 42 hours.

Union representatives and department leadership have identified extended shift schedules as a contributing factor to burnout, increased cardiovascular risk, and mental and physical strain among firefighting personnel. Officials stated that reduction in average workweek hours through implementation of a fourth shift could improve both firefighter and public safety outcomes.

To staff the additional positions, Norfolk launched a lateral recruitment initiative targeting certified firefighters from other departments. The application period closed July 17 with significantly higher application volume than city officials anticipated. Applicants submitted applications from across the region and from departments nationwide.

The city has scheduled the first lateral firefighter academy to commence in November. Lateral recruitment permits the city to bring experienced certified firefighters into service without requiring completion of basic recruit training.

The shift reduction initiative aligns with 2026 Virginia state legislation encouraging municipalities and counties to reduce firefighter workweeks to 42 hours. The state legislation establishes a policy framework supporting local government efforts to address firefighter health and wellness through scheduling modifications.

Virginia Beach Fire Department personnel are monitoring Norfolk’s implementation progress. In April, Virginia Beach Fire Chief Ken Pravetz requested city council funding for an initial workweek reduction from 56 to 48 hours, with a longer-term goal of moving to a four-shift schedule similar to Norfolk’s initiative.

Virginia Beach currently operates under the same three-shift schedule as Norfolk, with firefighters working 24-hour shifts. Noel Garo, a battalion chief with the Virginia Beach Fire Department and vice president of IAFF Local 2924, stated that Norfolk’s progress could provide momentum for Virginia Beach to advance similar staffing and scheduling changes. Garo noted that Norfolk’s recruitment success may increase regional labor market competition for firefighter positions.