Discipline over a hand signal, and hiring process for county administrator, among concerns for La Crosse County supervisors

A controversy from this summer involving a La Crosse County sheriff’s deputy is being revisited this month by county officials.

The county board’s Judiciary and Law Committee, which meets Tuesday, is expected to discuss the actions of a sergeant, who was criticized for making an “OK” sign in a group photo of deputies at the Country Boom festival back in July. The hand signal has been associated with white supremacists.

Sheriff Jeff Wolf criticized the hand gesture at the time. He’s expected to report to the committee on an investigation of the matter. The committee could also discuss possible discipline against the sergeant at that same Tuesday meeting.

The search for a new La Crosse County administrator is on the agenda for the county board on Monday night, at its first meeting for October. An update on the position of administrator is scheduled from county board chair Monica Kruse.

The county’s executive committee is expected to review the hiring process at its meeting on Wednesday.

County officials were still accepting applications for the job within the last month, and Kruse says she’d like to have a new administrator hired before year’s end.

Steve O’Malley announced his retirement as administrator after 18 years in the post.