July 25, 2022 – Waukesha Co., WI – The Washington County Sheriff’s Department assisted Sunday in a recovery effort following reports of a drowning in neighboring Waukesha County on Lac La Belle Lake in Oconomowoc.
An update on that story is posted below courtesy Western Lakes Fire District
At 3:44 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, 2022, Waukesha County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a possible drowning on Lac La Belle in the Town of Oconomowoc.
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The Town of Oconomowoc Police, City of Oconomowoc Police, and Western Lakes Fire District’s Fire, EMS and Dive Team were dispatched along with the Western Waukesha Dive Team.
Witnesses indicate a 35-year-old male from Milwaukee was on a pontoon boat with friends. The subject was swimming in the area northwest of Islandale when he went under water and did not resurface.
Mutual aid dive teams and boats were requested to assist from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin DNR, Chenequa Police, Mukwonago Fire, Washington County, and Dodge County.
Primary search efforts were suspended at approximately 9pm with crews planning to return Monday morning at 8 a.m. Prior to returning to shore one of the boats located an area of interest utilizing sonar, which resulted in redeployment of the Western Lakes Dive Team and Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department Dive team at 9:40 p.m.
On Sunday evening, at approximately 10:58 p.m., the victim was located in approximately 11 feet of water west of Blackhawk Drive. The Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene. This incident remains under investigation.
Thank you to all of the agencies that remained on scene and assisted including Town of Oconomowoc Police, Wisconsin DNR, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, City of Oconomowoc Police, Chenequa Police, and Lake Country Fire.
We also would like to thank the Oconomowoc Community for your assistance, prayers, and support as our community suffered a second tragic loss in the last four days. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.
