BELLEVILLE, Wis. — A tiny police department in south central Wisconsin has a unique new lieutenant on the force.

We’ve all heard of police K9s, but what about police felines? A cat, known as Lieutenant Jax, is the newest member of the Belleville Police Department.

“He’s just a pleasure to have here,” said Belleville Police Chief Bill Eihelkraut.

Lt. Jax made his way to the police department’s door as a stray kitten back in August 2023. The seven-officer team decided to take him in. Now, they can’t imagine the police station without him.

Eihelkraut said he starts his workday by giving Lt. Jax his favorite treats, before heading to his desk to work on paperwork and manage his officers. 

He has a dedicated spot for Lt. Jax on his desk, that is equipped with bird-watching videos and spots for him to take a nap.

Eihelkraut said he noticed a bigger purpose for this lovable cat right away.

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

“He’s been a help for us, to take our mind off of the all the bad we see,” Eihelkraut said.

Lt. Jax is not “kitten around” when he’s at work. He takes his job as a therapy cat very seriously. Police records clerk Nicole Coyne said he can sense when he’s needed.

“He’s very intuitive,” said Coyne. “I know when I’ve had a bad day, he will stick either on you or close by you.”

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

Lt. Jax has developed a reputation as a truly comforting cat. He has even sat on the lap of a crime victim who came in to talk with police. He spends time near the front entrance, greeting visitors with meows.

“People can relate to animals,” Eihelkraut said. “I hope this guy sticks around for a while.”

The department first announced the addition of Lt. Jax in a Facebook post. It got a huge response and generated a lot of positive messages.

In just a handful of months, Jax has made his way from a stray cat to a lieutenant. He’s found a home and a purpose in Belleville.