John Ferak

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

County Board chairman, city police chief defend tarnished Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office

MANITOWOC – Manitowoc County was flooded with negative emails from across the world after the release of "Making a Murderer" in mid-December, but there was a spirited minority who came to the defense of the embattled sheriff's department.

"I will never forget the look in Steven Avery’s eyes when he was being brought into the courthouse ...," Manitowoc County Board Chairman Jim Brey wrote in an email to sheriff's detectives. “I know a person cannot be convicted based on that, but I made up my mind that day. Avery was guilty."

City of Manitowoc Police Chief Nick Reimer sent an email to sheriff's Lt. Andrew Colborn proclaiming his disgust with the Netflix series. Colborn and now-retired sheriff's detective James Lenk came under fire in the Netflix series. The show revisited the possibility that Lenk and Colborn ensured Avery's arrest and conviction in the death of Teresa Halbach by fabricating evidence in the disappearance of Teresa Halbach, a free-lance photographer, who was a regular visitor to the Avery Salvage Yard.

Timeline: History of the Steven Avery case

Related: “Making a Murderer” coverage, archived stories and more

Lenk and Colborn both denied planting evidence during their trial testimony. The jury from Manitowoc County found Avery guilty of murdering Halbach and he received a life sentence. His teenage nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also found guilty of homicide in Halbach's death.

The emails from Brey and Reimer were recently turned over to the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to comply with a public records request. USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin sought access to written or electronic correspondence involving several current law enforcement officials at the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff's office has received hundreds of emails and voice-mail messages from people all over the world. The vast majority were harshly critical and suggested the department consists of crooked cops.

In his email to Colborn, Reimer wrote: “I know you to be a great person and crime fighter. I find it not only difficult as a (law enforcement) officer, but also as a citizen to hear what is being said about the 2nd Avery case. It’s hard not to lose faith in the world, knowing that a Netflix movie can make people believe guilty people are innocent and then those people feel moved enough to contact (law enforcement) and say terrible things.”

Reimer also urged Colborn to "hang in there."

“For every misguided hater there are many, many, many more supporters and intelligent people that don’t fall for this profit-making movie," Reimer wrote.

During an email exchange with Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Remiker, Brey stated, "I know what is going on and I feel the pain too."

Brey has served on the county board since 1996. He has also been on Manitowoc's Common Council since 1992.

“I will continue to defend all of you that were involved in the successful prosecution of a ruthless killer,” Brey wrote Remiker. “Keep the faith my friend. The vast majority still believes in you!”

A retired Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper from Manitowoc County emailed Manitowoc County Sheriff Rob Hermann, thanking the sheriff's office for securing Avery's murder conviction.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you, your agency and all law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the Halbach murder,” wrote Laurence “Buzz” Burzynski, now a supervisory special agent for the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“Nothing is stranger than the truth," Burzynski continued, "and the truth is that with Avery’s history, there was case oversite (sic) and it is inconceivable to me that there is anyone with a badge in our county and Calumet Co. that would conspire to frame Avery or any other citizen!"

In the wake of the sea of criticism, Manitowoc County Sheriff's officials have monitored the internet and social media in search of public comments or news media articles that have justified Avery's murder conviction, the USA TODAY-Network determined.

For instance, Manitowoc County officials emailed Hermann about a Facebook post published by Tom Aziere, a long-retired FBI agent from Green Bay.

On social media, Aziere denounced the Netflix series and even questioned Avery's 2003 DNA exoneration.

In 1985, Avery was arrested for a brutal attack of a female jogger along a Lake Michigan. After being convicted and locked away in prison for 18 years, Avery was freed in 2003 after DNA evidence proved that Gregory Allen was the real rapist and Avery was innocent, as he always proclaimed.

"I know what type of person Steven Avery is," Aziere wrote. "And I know there can never be a grand conspiracy theory. He is not this innocent person you were led to believe. I even question whether he should have been released on the DNA evidence, but that would take too long to explain.”

Molly Dewane also wrote the sheriff entitling her email, "thank you."

Dewane said she was an acquaintance of former Manitowoc County District Attorney Mark Rohrer, who is now a Manitowoc Circuit Court judge. Back in 2005, Rohrer was one of about 35 people, mostly county employees, who were deposed in Avery's $36 million wrongful conviction lawsuit against Manitowoc County.

“I am outraged by the hysteria created by the Netflix ‘documentary’ over convicted KILLERS Avery and Dassey," Dewane wrote to Sheriff Hermann. "It is astounding how many people fail to use any critical thinking skills."

Dewane stated that she knew most of the people associated with the Avery investigation and prosecution. “The officers involved are people I know to be ethical, honest people," Dewane wrote. "Suggesting they would deliberately sabotage a homicide investigation is ludicrous.”

Dewane also said she doubted the sheriff had received very many positive comments since the Netflix series aired. “Let’s hope the uninformed people incapable of critical thinking find a new conspiracy theory soon,” she stated. “Thank you for all that you and your staff do.”

Elsewhere, Randy Sigley of Colorado emailed Hermann thanking him for a "job well done."

“I am sure you receive a lot of emotionally charged emails after the Netflix broadcast – keep your heads up,” Sigley wrote.

Sigley wrote that he had previously been the victim of a crime.

"So I view the outpouring for Avery with horror - stand strong - I can only imagine how difficult the investigation was and how closely all of you invested yourselves into making sure the job was done properly - that is what Ms. Halbach deserved and you did it ... justice was done."

A California woman who said she worked as a Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office dispatcher during the early 1980s also sent Hermann an email of support.

"I am sickened to see how this entertainment piece has hurt the name of the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department,” Julie (Pelnar) Dutton wrote. “What Avery did made me sick. Years later I hear about this movie and have been outraged ever since. I’m just a former employee and it’s bothering me so much. I can’t even begin to imagine what you and your fine deputies are going through. I will keep all of you in my prayers.”

In late December, sheriff's detective Remiker circulated emails to Manitowoc County's top elected officials. He wanted them to rally around the sheriff's department after fellow detectives Colborn and Dennis Jacobs were becoming recipients of angry voice-mail messages and emails after the release of "Making a Murderer."

“This is the most despicable, unfair and intolerable situation I have ever witnessed,” Remiker wrote. “This has and will change a lot of the employees that have been targeted by these actions."

Although special prosecutor Ken Kratz told the news media in early November 2005 that the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office would not be investigating Avery because of a conflict of interest stemming from the $36 million lawsuit, Remiker was one of a handful of Manitowoc County detectives who continued to remain a regular presence at the Avery Salvage Yard, in hopes of finding evidence to tie Avery to the murder of Halbach.

“Clearly, the story that was portrayed has damaged our reputation and the integrity of these officers for their entire career,” Remiker wrote Brey. “As one of the lead investigators on that case I am very proud of what we accomplished and completely disagree with the portrayal that is circulating everywhere. In reality, nothing can change the damage that has been done. It’s a pretty helpless feeling. I can tell you there are several here that feel like they have a target on their back. If you do not believe me, take some time to read some of the hundreds of comments online. It’s horrible!”

Remiker also sent an email to Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer indicating, “I do not know what my expectations are from individuals that represent our county but I would hope that there will be some discussions and potentially support given to these professionals that did exactly what they should have done in some very difficult circumstances.”

A political independent, Ziegelbauer, 64, has been county executive since 2006. Ziegelbauer also served in the State Assembly from 1992 to 2013.

After receiving Remiker's letter, the Manitowoc County politician emailed him back a three-word reply: “hang in there.”

Remiker forwarded the county executive’s response to fellow sheriff's detective Dennis Jacobs.

“Look at the response I received from Bob Z, ‘Hang in there,’” Remiker wrote. “The best he could do is respond with three words. Wow!”

“That’s leadership,” Jacobs wrote to Remiker. “I only had to use two words.”

John Ferak: 920-993-7115 or jferak@gannett.com; on Twitter @johnferak