Police Investigator suing City of Superior has also filed union grievance
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Investigator suing the Superior Police Department in Federal Court, Mikayla LeRette, has also filed a union grievance.
It was filed by Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) Local #27 Grievance and Discipline Committee.
The filing was submitted on June 30, 2025.
That was about five months after her federal lawsuit was filed.
The grievance was submitted to Chief of Police, Superior Police Department and carbon copied to Superior Human Resources Director, Mayor Jim Paine, Superior’s Human Resources Committee, and Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf.
The stated subject of the grievance is, “Improper Discipline, Retaliation, and Violation of Contractual Protections Relating to Schedule, Appointment, and Due Process.”
It continued to say members of the police department, “initiated discipline against Investigator Mikayla LeRette based on scheduling disputes and performance concerns which lacked foundation, notice, due process, and fair investigation. The grievance also addresses the retaliatory nature of these actions following protected leave and union advocacy.”
Many of claims in the grievance are similar to parts of her federal lawsuit.
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The union grievance says members of Superior Police Command staff provided allegations against her to the background investigator from Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force (LSVOTF) and a Task Force Officer (TFO) position with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) prior to, “conducting a formal investigation, without notice or reprimand to INV LeRette, and without following progressive discipline.”
It also says a disciplinary investigation was initiated by Captain Jeffrey Harriman and Former Assistant Chief John Kiel without the knowledge of the Chief of Police or the involvement of the Police and Fire Commission. The union grievance claims Wisconsin Statute and the collective bargaining agreement does not give any Assistant Chief the power to unilateral take disciplinary actions.
The grievance lists many perceived process complaints about how investigations are conducted by members of the Superior Police Department.
The process complains range from how information is gathered, how the investigation is revealed, and how LeRette was allowed to respond to the investigation.
The grievance continues to say, “unsubstantiated allegations delivered to the Douglas County District Attorney have jeopardized INV LeRette’s continued appointment as a narcotics investigator.”
The grievance also listed concerns about her duties during her pregnancy and her return. Those pregnancy-related concerns were mirrored in the federal lawsuit.
The grievance has 15 items of concern ending with, “The City has failed to submit any complaint, legitimate or otherwise, to the lawful authority of the Police and Fire Commission. The City has selected to do this after Mayor Paine identified what he termed “mitigating factors” which undermined the integrity of the investigation. Despite the presence of these “mitigating factors,” the City has intentionally issued communications, both private and public, that have damaged INV LeRette’s career and reputation.”
Investigator Mikayla LeRette is married to Superior Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt. Winterscheidt assumed the position on January 27, 2024.
Some of the complaints in the grievance happened before and after Winterscheidt became chief.
A number of the complaints in grievance included actions that were taken outside of the purview of the position of the chief.
The union grievance is asking for five remedies.
They want the immediate dismissal of the internal investigation and removal of investigation notes within city records.
The grievance also asked for, “A formal public statement issued by the City of Superior stating that the allegations in this matter were unsubstantiated, and no formal discipline or sustained findings resulted.”
They’re also asking for a formal statement to the District Attorney of Douglas County saying LeRette, “remains qualified, trusted, and cleared to represent the agency on task force operations.”
They grievance also continued to ask, “The City will publicly release a written statement of apology for the actions.” That public letter would specifically call out the action of people mentioned in the Federal Lawsuit and others.
It lastly ask for “A good faith effort shall take place to deliver a written agreement… to define and explain the lawful methods by which a subordinate member of the Superior Police Department may be subjected to both informal and formal discipline.”
