Denita R. Ball
Democratic · WI · Milwaukee County Sheriff
Dr. Denita R. Ball is Milwaukee County Sheriff and the certified Democratic candidate for reelection in 2026. Elected in 2022 after appointment as acting sheriff, she previously served as the county's chief deputy sheriff and spent 25 years with the Milwaukee Police Department, retiring as deputy inspector. Her current work and campaign emphasize jail education and recovery programming, public safety, recruiting and retention, and mental-health and wellness resources for staff and people in custody.
Track record
Public Safety and Crime Control
· 6 records
Ball's administration modernized recruiting and streamlined hiring while seeking a workforce that reflects Milwaukee County.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
As sheriff, Ball expanded jail education, workforce-readiness, mental-health-treatment, and substance-use-recovery programming.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball's administration expanded mental-health resources, peer support, and wellness services for staff and people in custody.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball requested an audit of the Milwaukee County Jail as part of her response to jail operations and deaths in custody.
April 14, 2026For
Source: milwaukeecourier.com · researched July 18, 2026
After deaths in the county jail, Ball's office reported implementing 18 policy changes, most concerning suicide-watch practices.
June 16, 2025For
Source: fox6now.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball created and commanded a roughly 200-officer Neighborhood Task Force that the official county biography credits with double-digit crime decreases.
January 1, 2011For
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Data Privacy
· 1 record
Ball ended the sheriff's office's pursuit of facial-recognition technology after community and elected-official concerns about privacy and civil rights.
February 27, 2026For
Source: urbanmilwaukee.com · researched July 18, 2026
Civil Rights
· 5 records
Ball's administration modernized recruiting and streamlined hiring while seeking a workforce that reflects Milwaukee County.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
As sheriff, Ball expanded jail education, workforce-readiness, mental-health-treatment, and substance-use-recovery programming.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball's administration expanded mental-health resources, peer support, and wellness services for staff and people in custody.
June 1, 2026For
Source: denitaball.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball ended the sheriff's office's pursuit of facial-recognition technology after community and elected-official concerns about privacy and civil rights.
February 27, 2026For
Source: urbanmilwaukee.com · researched July 18, 2026
After deaths in the county jail, Ball's office reported implementing 18 policy changes, most concerning suicide-watch practices.
June 16, 2025For
Source: fox6now.com · researched July 18, 2026
General
· 7 records
Ball was certified as the sole filed Democratic candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff in the November 3, 2026 general election.
June 1, 2026
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Ball was elected Milwaukee County's 66th sheriff on November 8, 2022.
November 8, 2022
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Ball holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in criminal-justice administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership, and completed multiple public-safety leadership programs.
October 26, 2022
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Ball worked in higher education as an instructor and criminal-justice program director at Bryant & Stratton College and as an adjunct professor at Cardinal Stritch University.
October 26, 2022
Source: content.govdelivery.com · researched July 18, 2026
Ball served as chief deputy and undersheriff of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office beginning in 2019 before becoming sheriff.
January 1, 2019
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Ball served for 25 years in the Milwaukee Police Department and retired at the rank of deputy inspector.
January 1, 2011
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Ball commanded Milwaukee Police Department District Four, Internal Affairs, and the Sensitive Crimes Division.
January 1, 2011
Source: county.milwaukee.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Elections
- Milwaukee County Sheriff · November 3, 2026 · Milwaukee County, Wisconsin · incumbent
Profile last researched July 18, 2026.