Kohl: FBI wants to close 3 Wis. offices

MADISON, Wis. — U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl says the FBI plans to close three field offices in Wisconsin.

Kohl has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and FBI Director Robert Mueller complaining about the bureau’s plans to close offices in La Crosse, Kenosha and Wausau and move agents to positions in Eau Claire, Milwaukee and elsewhere in the state. That would leave two offices in Eau Claire and Madison to cover the western half of the state.

Kohl says the move would create enormous geographical distances between the bureau and out-state communities and sever close working relationships agents have developed with local police.

An FBI spokesman in Milwaukee referred questions to the bureau’s national press office. A spokeswoman there declined comment.