Denita Ball Milwaukee County's 1st female sheriff

MILWAUKEE - Denita Ball won the Democratic primary for Milwaukee County sheriff Tuesday, Aug. 9, and with no Republican challenger in November, she becomes Milwaukee County's first female sheriff and the first Black woman to serve as sheriff in the state of Wisconsin.

Less than 24 hours after her primary victory, Ball said she understands the magnitude of this moment, and she is ready to get to work.

With 56% of the vote, Ball beat her competitors, Brian Barkow and Thomas Beal, in the race for Milwaukee County sheriff. She runs opposed in November, meaning she's essentially Milwaukee County's newest sheriff come January.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

"I couldn't be more proud," said current Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.

During a Wednesday morning interview with FOX6's Kim Murphy, Ball talked about the significance of her primary victory.

"Young girls, women, especially, who are watching, and it’s like, ‘Oh, my goodness. I didn’t know I could aspire to be the sheriff,’" said Murphy. 

"I wear the magnitude of this moment, and as I’ve stated before, I may be the first but it's my responsibility that I am not the last," said Ball. 

Ball currently serves as chief deputy sheriff. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

Her win comes on the heels of a no-confidence vote for Sheriff Lucas' administration by the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

"I inherit that because I am part of the administration," said Ball. "We have work to do. I understand the morale. They are working more – and more mandatory overtime." 

"Challenges and obstacles is not anything that she’s unaccustomed to," said Lucas. 

Ball said fixing the sheriff's office's staffing shortage is a top priority. She said she's also focused on freeway safety, the parks, the airport and the courthouse. 

She said she’s ready to hit the ground running. Lucas said she's ready to lead.

"She cares about the work and people we serve in this community, and she’s going to give it everything she’s got," said Lucas.

"I am second in command of the agency," said Ball. "I can start that process now. I can start working with our stakeholders to ensure we do have a stronger and safer community."

Ball previously spent 25 years with the Milwaukee Police Department. In a statement, Milwaukee police said, "Chief Norman and the Milwaukee Police Department congratulate Denita Ball on her primary election victory. MPD looks forward to continuing to work with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office." 

Ball will be sworn into office in January.

Statement from Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas

"I congratulate Chief Deputy Denita Ball on her primary election victory to become the next Milwaukee County Sheriff. Chief Ball has been serving as the day-to-day commander of the Sheriff’s Office since we came into office in January 2019. In this capacity, she has overseen the Sheriff’s Office budget, led our response to the pandemic, and worked on developing law enforcement best practices to ensure we are adhering to the highest standards of our profession.
She has literally had her hands on all the progress we have made over the past three-and-a-half years.

I have known Chief Ball for over four decades and could not be prouder of her accomplishments. Her historic election victory is the culmination of years of dedication and commitment to serving our community. She is an inspiration for people everywhere who have a strong faith in their beliefs. I have confidence in her judgment, experience, and leadership to move the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office forward with honor, integrity, and dignity."

Statement from Milwaukee County Supervisor Kathleen Vincent

"I am happy to learn that Milwaukee County will soon be under the leadership of Chief Deputy Denita Ball as our new Sheriff. I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Denita over the past several months. She is a very intelligent and a forward thinking leader. We have had the opportunity to discuss the mental health needs of individuals who are under the care of our correctional system and I believe she will work hard to find solutions to the current problems our County is faced with. And I would be remiss to leave out that it is exciting to have a strong woman in this important leadership role."

Statement from Milwaukee County Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones

"I would like to applaud Denita Ball on becoming Milwaukee County's first First African American Woman Sheriff. I look forward to seeing Sheriff Ball bring her experience, professional integrity and leadership in bridging the gap and working towards a more transparent and productive work relationship with the County Board and the community."

Denita Ball's background

Ball came into the sheriff's primary as Sheriff Lucas' second in command at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. As undersheriff, she's led efforts to improve conditions at the Milwaukee County Jail and promote inclusivity.

At the Milwaukee Police Department, Ball rose through the ranks as a captain and deputy inspector. She became the subject matter coordinator for Bryant & Stratton College's Criminal Justice Program -- helping shape the next generation of police officers. 

In 2018, at Lucas's request, she joined the sheriff's office as undersheriff, overseeing day-to-day operations.

Her priorities include creating a behavioral response unit to address mental health, utilizing more technology for investigations (license plate readers, surveillance cameras, drones) and strengthening partnerships within the community. She also sees a need for more peer support within the sheriff's office, especially pertaining to the jail.