JAIL The first Green County Sheriff took office in 1838. A temporary jail was used at the American House which was located in what is known as the White Block Building on the southwest corner of the square in Monroe. The first County Jail, which was built out of logs prior to 1855, was destroyed by fire. This jail was located next to the local brewery and news reports indicate the brewery was saved from the adjoining flames by the efforts of citizens who kept the roof moistened with the contents from large beer vats inside. That same year, proposals for a new jail were received and a jail made of stone was approved for construction on the same site which is now known as the Jailhouse Tap Tavern. The Jail House Tap is located about two blocks southwest of the downtown area. In 1959, the Sheriff's Department/Jail at the current location on the east side of Monroe was built to house up to 20 inmates. In 1980, a portion of the 1959 structure was torn down and an addition was added which increased the holding capacity to 70 beds. SHERIFF KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY One Green County Sheriff was killed in the line of duty on May 3, 1919 when Sheriff Matt Solbraa responded to a report of a man held up in a farm house seven miles north of Monroe. Reports of the incident indicated a homeless man had shot and killed a farmer and the Sheriff responded to the scene and confronted the man. ordering him to drop his weapon. The man fired and fatally injured Sheriff Solbraa. Sheriff Solbraa's name is inscribed in the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial on the ground of the Capitol at Madison, WI and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D. C. Department Summary Green County is comprised of 16 townships, five villages and two cities. The Sheriff's Department is responsible for patroling the areas of the county that do not provide their own enforcement. This includes the towns of Adams, Albany, Brooklyn, Cadiz, Clarno, Decatur, Exeter, Jefferson, Jordan, Monroe, Mt. Pleasant, New Glarus, Spring Grove, Sylvester, Washington, York and the Village of Browntown. In addition, the Sheriff's Department provides protection to the villages of Albany, Brooklyn, Monticello and New Glarus when the officers from these agencies are off duty. The Sheriff's Department/Jail is located at 2827 6th Street, which houses the 911 County Communication Center, a 70-bed jail and other Department-related offices. The operation of the Department is divided into several divisions consisting of Administration, Communications, Jail, Patrol, Detective, Clerical, Special Units, and Support Staff.