Director Faithe Colas
Director of Public Relations and Community Engagement
Director Faithe Colas began her 30-year career in print media and public relations with the Milwaukee Courier newspaper in 1987 and retired as publisher in the fall of 2007. Later that winter, she joined The Salvation Army as its community relations director for Milwaukee County and went on to serve as the assistant divisional director of development for its Wisconsin and Upper Michigan areas, with a focus on Milwaukee County. Director Colas led a team of six who managed media relations, volunteers, special events, Red Kettles and grants.
In 2015, as community relations director, Ms. Colas’ work led The Salvation Army into a partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department. This partnership created The Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program, the only such partnership and program of its kind in the country. It’s designed to train volunteers to provide emotional and spiritual support to families impacted by homicides.
In 2012, in her role as the public information officer, Director Colas coordinated the national media for The Salvation Army during the investigation of the Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek and the Azana Salon shooting in Brookfield. Also, in 2011 when an EF5-rated, multiple-vortex tornado leveled the town of Joplin, Missouri, Director Colas was deployed to serve as the national public information officer for The Salvation Army during its disaster recovery efforts. Additionally, Director Colas coordinated the Christmas Family Feast, the largest Salvation Army feeding event in the country that provides a free hot meal on Christmas Day.
Known as the optimistic personality, Director Colas hosts “There’s Always Something Good to Talk About,” a weekly Saturday morning magazine format talk show on WNOV 860 AM and 106.5 FM, which focuses on changing the narrative about Milwaukee and shares positive local, national and international news. Director Colas is the president and CEO of VonCommunications, a public relations business that specializes in community, media and public relations, which was founded by her late husband, radio host and political commentator, Eric Von.
Director Colas is a current member of the WUWM Advisory Board, the Running Rebels Community Association Advisory Board, as well as a member of the Wisconsin Black Media Association, the Milwaukee Press Club, the Public Relations Society of America and president of the Black Public Relations Society. Director Colas is a 2010 Milwaukee Business Journal Woman of Influence Alumni, a past member of the Forest County Potawatomi Advisory Board, a former contributor to Milwaukee Public Radio’s Lake Effect and a former host of Milwaukee Public Television’s (MPTV) Black Nouveau.
Deputy Inspector Daniel Hughes
Police Services Bureau
Deputy Inspector Daniel Hughes was appointed to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff on November 18, 1996. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in July of 2006, lieutenant in February 2009, and captain in July 2010. In September of 2017, he was promoted to deputy inspector.
Deputy Inspector Hughes has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with an emphasis on supervision and management. Additionally, he holds an associate's degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College in police science. He has graduated from the Northwestern University Executive Management Program, IACP Leadership in Police Organizations Program, NWTC Use of Force Manager Program, the Force Science Institute Certification Program, and is a 2009 graduate of Marquette University's Future Milwaukee Leadership Program.
Deputy Inspector Hughes has worked in several different assignments as a deputy sheriff to include the Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility, the Patrol Division as a deputy assigned to expressway patrol operations, as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) assigned to the Warrant Squad, the Gun Reduction Interdiction Program (GRIP unit) and the Targeted Enforcement Unit (TEU).
Currently, Deputy Inspector Hughes is the commander of the Police Services Bureau. He was the Patrol Division commander from 2012 to 2016, the MCSO training director in charge of our training academy from 2010 to 2012, and he has served in a supervisory capacity as a lieutenant and a sergeant within the Expressway Patrol Division from 2006 to 2010. Deputy Inspector Hughes has extensive experience in police field operations as well as presidential and other high-level dignitary protection, special event planning and operations, and protest mitigation.
Deputy Inspector Hughes was appointed to the MCSO SWAT Team in January 2001 as a SWAT technician. He then moved up in the ranks holding a position of sniper, assistant team leader, team leader, and is currently the assistant SWAT team commander. He has been a Wisconsin LESB-certified firearms instructor as well as a certified sniper instructor.
In 2016, Deputy Inspector was recognized by the U.S. Secret Service with a certificate of appreciation award for his superior contributions in the area of dignitary protection.