New documents: Personnel files on Steven Zelich released by Mequon PD contain surprising reviews



MEQUON (WITI) -- "A true asset." "A great officer" Surprising words for a man who's the prime suspect in the deaths of two women. New documents, released by the Mequon Police Department provide insight into Steven Zelich's past.

Before Zelich was a West Allis police officer, he spent five years as a patrolman in Mequon. A stack of papers released by Mequon PD shows Zelich was "a respected officer" before he became a suspect.

Zelich has pleaded not guilty to two counts of hiding a corpse out of Walworth County.

The big question still unanswered: Did Steven Zelich, a former West Allis police officer, kill Laura Simonson of Farmington, Minnesota and Jenny Gamez of Cottage Grove, Oregon during bondage sexual encounters?

Zelich's attorney says he killed the women accidentally during sexual encounters.

Officials in Minnesota and Kenosha County are still considering whether to file murder charges against him.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Zelich out of Walworth County, he has admitted to causing the deaths of both Simonson and Gamez. Detective Jeffrey Recknagel says Zelich told him he killed the women accidentally after separate sexual encounters that were rough and included bondage.

Zelich told police he met Jenny Gamez in person in late 2012 or early 2013 in Kenosha County.

Zelich told officials he met Laura Simonson personally in Rochester, Minnesota in November of 2013.

The latest documents to be released on Steven Zelich are from when he started his career in law enforcement as a Mequon police officer. He worked at Mequon PD from 1984 through 1989.

On his application, Zelich wrote he wanted to be a police officer to follow in his father's footsteps -- explaining he had a "sincere desire to help people."

Documents show Zelich's time with Mequon PD was filled with good reviews.

A citizen wrote a letter applauding Zelich's work -- telling the chief he was "a true asset" to the department.

Zelich's only reprimands were for dropping a camera and not wearing the proper uniform. Minor, compared to accusations that have come out of documents released by the West Allis Police Department.

A recorded confrontation between the West Allis Police Chief and Zelich show accusations of abuse of power.

Chief: "Do you think it`s proper Steve, for an officer on duty in uniform to be approaching a woman and continually asking her out for lunch?"

It's something Zelich continually denied.

"Never was I pushy or out of line.  I`m always professional and gentlemanly," Zelich says in the recordings.

CLICK HERE for a collection of stories on Steven Zelich via FOX6Now.com.