The Village of Waunakee has a long and unique history of policing. Waunakee's first law enforcement dates back to the mid 1890s. Waunakee became incorporated in 1893 on a vote of 67-18. That year the first part time Marshal was appointed. His pay was $4 per month to start. In 1895 Waunakee opened its first jail at a cost of $120. In 1899 the Marshal's salary was raised to $5 as his responsibilities increased and he was required to feed his prisoners, the majority of which consisted of vagrants and drunks.
According to documents found in the Waunakee Centennial publication, most of the problems in the early 1900s were caused by spending too much time in one of the local saloons. On rare occasions there would be a horse theft or escaped patient from Mendota Mental Health to be returned.