WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The number of sex offenses in Wood County is rising.
“Even as law enforcement it can be difficult for us to hear some of this stuff,” said Lt. Joe Zurfluh, Wood County Sheriff’s Department.
New data released by state officials shows that Wood County has the highest number of sex offenses reported per capita in 2020.
“A caveat to this is maybe victims in our jurisdiction and the city jurisdictions you know feel comfortable reporting because sexual assaults are one of the most under-reported crimes that there are,” Zurfluh said.
Many of the 121 reported last year were children. 76% were under the age of 18.
“With juveniles, anything that even potentially be inappropriate is investigated as a possible sexual assault,” Zurfluh said.
Authorities say the pandemic could play a part. “Kind of in all aspects of society the pandemic and the various approaches to combat it. I mean it just turned everything upside down for the past year and a quarter so that’s certain possibly. I couldn’t rule it out,” Zurfluh said.
In 2020, sex offenses reported increased by 10. Even more cases may be reported in 2021. “What we’re experiencing right now in 2021 is a huge surge in requests for services for sexual assault victims as well as domestic violence victims.,” said Sue Sippel, Executive Director at the Wisconsin Rapids Family Matter Center.
