Nygren nailed for speeding

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
June 26, 2012

Wisconsin State Trooper Dennis Bedish was wide awake and alert on Thursday, January 5, 2012, when Keith R. Nygren (that would be McHenry County Sheriff Keith R. Nygren) was clocked at 70MPH in a 55MPH zone in Vilas County, Wisconsin. That's up north; right near Minocqua.

And Trooper Bedish did his duty on behalf of the People of the State of Wisconsin and issued Citation Number Q1908874 with a court appearance date of February 13, 2012, 8:30AM.

This Vilas County case was No. 2012TR000067 and Nygren was guilty due to a no-contest plea. This resulted in a fine of $175.30. The People of Wisconsin thank you, Keith. Come again soon.

What's important about this? Vilas County is just north of Minocqua, Wisc., where Nygren maintains one of three homes. Minocqua is 290 miles north of the McHenry County Government Center, where the McHenry County Sheriff's Department is located.

Keith was driving a vehicle with Illinois plate 196 3705 (VIN 1GNFK13018J115869). I recognize that plate, because it's the same license plate that was on the white Chevrolet Tahoe, when Keith pulled his little "glare" stunt in the Jewel-Osco parking lot in September 2009. That's the one that the Woodstock Police Department documented.

Is this Nygren's personal vehicle? Is it a County-owned vehicle? If it is a County-owned or -maintained vehicle, why was Nygren driving a County vehicle to his Minocqua home? Was that the first time? The only time? Or does he regularly drive that vehicle out of the state on personal trips? Does he pay for his own gas on those trips? Does he report personal vehicle use for income tax purposes? Does he reimburse the County, if it is a County vehicle, for the wear-and-tear during personal miles?

Nygren told me about 8-10 years ago that he "had to" drive 20MPH over the speed limit in Wisconsin just to keep up with traffic. I remember thinking to myself, "Some sheriff! Why doesn't he obey traffic laws?"

Do you suppose Nygren informed MCSD of the ticket? Any deputy must do so, according to General Orders. Every contact with police is to be reported.