Chief Deputy Denita Ball, Ph.D.

Chief Deputy Denita Ball is a 25-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department, who retired at the rank of deputy inspector. During her career, she directly commanded or supervised the Professional Standards Bureau, Inspections Division, Professional Performance Division, Training Division, Executive Protection Unit, License Investigation Unit, Recruiting Section, Sensitive Crimes Division and Police District Four. Chief Deputy Ball coordinated the formation and implementation, and commanded the Neighborhood Task Force, a mobile strike unit of 200 officers who responded to high-crime neighborhoods to stabilize the area, and as field deputy, she was in charge of the Milwaukee Police Department during evenings, weekends and holidays.

Chief Deputy Ball earned her doctorate degree in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education (Educational Leadership) from Cardinal Stritch University. The title of her dissertation research was, “Lethal Force: A Police Officer’s Deadly Experience.” Additionally, she earned her master's degree from UW-Milwaukee, her bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), and is a graduate of several leadership development programs, including Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (Session #126), Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Development Course, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (Session #218)and the Southern Police Institute Chief Executive Leadership Course. Additionally, she was a finalist for the Chief of Police position in Milwaukee and in Quincy, Florida.

Chief Deputy Ball also served as the academic program director for Bryant & Stratton College and was responsible for the oversight, supervision and management of the criminal justice program for its Milwaukee, Bayshore and Wauwatosa campuses. Chief Deputy Ball is an adjunct instructor for Cardinal Stritch University. She has been married for 30 years and has three children and one grandchild.

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.

Molly J. Zillig

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

Attorney Molly Zillig was recently the assistant corporation counsel with the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel. She advised departments on personnel matters; represented the County and individuals in employment-related cases before administrative agencies and in state and federal court; defended the County and individuals in lawsuits alleging violations of civil rights, drafts employment policies; and represented departments before the Personnel Review Board and the Civil Service Commission. Attorney Zillig has extensive experience in municipal law, including drafting ordinances and resolutions; responding to public records requests; conducting training of managers and supervisors concerning workplace discrimination and harassment as well as background checks and other employment issues.

Attorney Zillig’s prior work experience includes Whyte, Hirschboeck, Dudek n/k/a Husch Blackwell, Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk, SC, judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ralph Adam Fine of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Alholm & Monahan, LLC n/k/a Alholm, Monahan, Klauke, Hay & Oldenburg, LLC, Chicago, and law clerk to the Honorable Frank E. Henderson, South Dakota Supreme Court.

Attorney Zillig attended Creighton University where she earned her bachelor’s degree and her juris doctorate from Creighton University’s School of Law. Attorney Zillig is a member of the Wisconsin State Bar; a non-active member of the Illinois State Bar; the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin; and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Attorney Zillig is an active member of the Milwaukee legal community. She has spoken on insurance coverage issues and has volunteered at the regional rounds of the National Mock Court Competition. Attorney Zillig is currently the vice-chair of the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee and the liaison for the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee Guest House meal program. She also serves on the Board of Review for the Village of Whitefish Bay and previously served as its co-president of Advocates for Education.

Inspector Brian Barkow

Police Services Bureau

Deputy Inspector Brian Barkow was appointed to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office in September of 1997.  He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in August of 2006. In March of 2009, he was promoted to the rank of captain and to the rank of deputy inspector in 2017.

Currently, Deputy Inspector Barkow commands the Law Enforcement Analytics Division (L.E.A.D.), which provides tactical, operational and strategic analysis for the agency. L.E.A.D., a highly innovative division, uses the nationally recognized COMPSTAT model in analyzing data, crime trends and tracking resource and performance accountability in all Sheriff’s Office operations by using state-of-the-art business intelligence software. 

In March 2009, Deputy Inspector Barkow was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he oversaw the operations of the General Investigations Unit, Special Investigations Unit, Background Investigations Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit and all agency task force assignments.

In 2004, Deputy Inspector Barkow earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the UW-Milwaukee. Deputy Inspector Barkow is a 2008 graduate of the Future Milwaukee Leadership Training Program at Marquette University.

Inspector Aaron Dobson

Detention Services Bureau

Deputy Inspector Aaron Dobson was appointed to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff on Jan. 8, 1999. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2009 and to deputy inspector in 2017.

Prior to joining the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Inspector Dobson served his country as an active duty member of the United States Marine Corps from September 1994 until September 1998. While in the Marine Corps, Deputy Inspector Dobson was assigned as an air command and control electronics operator. Deputy Inspector Dobson attained the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps and was a crew chief in the Tactical Air Command Center.

Deputy Inspector Dobson worked several assignments as a deputy sheriff to include the Milwaukee County Jail, the Patrol Division as a deputy assigned to expressway patrol operations, a deputy assigned to the Targeted Enforcement Unit, and a detective assigned to the General Investigative Unit.

In 2004, Deputy Inspector Dobson was assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team as a technician. He held several different positions on the team to include sniper, instructor, assistant team leader and team leader. Deputy Inspector Dobson holds instructor certifications in the following fields: firearms, patrol rifle, sniper, taser, less lethal deployment (impact weapons) and chemical munitions deployment.

After being promoted to Sergeant in 2009, Deputy Inspector Dobson was assigned to a leadership role in several different units to include Patrol Division supervisor, Targeted Enforcement Unit supervisor and the supervisor in the Criminal Investigative Unit. While working in Criminal Investigations, Deputy Inspector Dobson supervised the General Investigative Unit, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the Background Investigative Unit.

Deputy Inspector Dobson is currently the commander of the Milwaukee County Jail.

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  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.