Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald announced his retirement from his law enforcement career after 17 years as Barron County Sheriff.
BARRON, Wis — A rural Wisconsin county that’s been at the center of regional and national mega stories – the kidnapping and escape of Jayme Closs, the international sex trafficking case against the former CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, and the longest on-the-ground tornado ever recorded in Wisconsin – is losing its long-running sheriff.
There aren’t many sheriffs across Wisconsin or Minnesota with the name and face recognition of Chris Fitzgerald. He is retiring from his 28-year law enforcement career, the last 17 spent as Barron County Sheriff.
Sheriff Fitz has been the face of the Barron County Sheriff’s Office through crimes and natural disasters that received coverage far beyond the county of 46,000 people.
When a tornado ripped through a mobile home park in Chetek and killed one person, Fitz kept the spotlight on the community, and support poured in.
In that disaster, Fitz realized his power as the elected sheriff in bringing people together.
“Taking that power and harnessing that into a community is what’s driven my career,” Fitzgerald said, sitting down with KARE 11’s Lou Raguse for an interview, looking back at his career.
That drive was so important after the kidnapping of Jayme Closs. With Jayme missing and her parents murdered, Sheriff Fitz’s mantra became: “Never give up hope.”
Lou Raguse: “How often do you still think about the Jayme Closs case?”
Sheriff Fitzgerald: “Oh, every day. And the impact that it had.”
Jayme escaped 88 days after her abduction, and Sheriff Fitz didn’t hide his excitement.
“My legs started to shake, man, it was awesome,” he said in an emotional press conference at the time.
Fitzgerald: “It was because of her strength that we learned we never give up on our kids. We never give up hope.”
Raguse: Do you still stay in contact with Jayme or her family?
Fitzgerald: I know she’s doing good, and that’s all that matters to me.
After all the high-profile stories, the lifelong Barron County native has decided to step down from his high-stress law enforcement career. He’s taking a job in public relations for local internet company Mosaic Technologies.
Raguse: What do you hope your legacy will be here?
Fitzgerald: “I think, community policing. I think, the community coming together. I hope the community thinks I did a good job.”
Sheriff Fitz’s last day is June 1. They have a potential appointee for replacement, Chief Deputy Jason Hagen who investigated the Closs case, and has been with Barron County even longer than Fitz.