Events surrounding the impending retirement of Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald have added some new wrinkles.

According to a record on the county website, Fitzgerald is scheduled to be recognized for 17 years of service at a meeting of the County Board Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee tomorrow morning, May 15, 2025, at the County Justice Center.

At the same meeting, the committee will be asked to approve leaves of absence for Fitzgerald’s top two assistants, Chief Deputy Jason Hagen, of Barron, and Patrol Captain Darren Hodek, of Chetek.

If the committee approves the requests, three key leaders will be leaving the Sheriff’s Department, at least temporarily.

Both Hagen and Hodek have filed letters with the committee indicating the possibility that they may be candidates for the sheriff’s job, which Gov. Tony Evers is to fill via appointment.

At the May 7 meeting of the County Executive Committee Fitzgerald noted that he feels Hagen is the best choice for a smooth transmission for the sheriff’s department.

Fitzgerald’s term of office expires Dec. 31, 2026. The appointed sheriff would fill out that term and have the opportunity to run for election to the office in November of next year.

According to county records, the Sheriff’s Department has 84 employees and an estimated 2025 budget of $10,633,965.

Fitzgerald’s departure was also the subject of conversation on Thursday, May 8, at a meeting of the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council.

Formed 13 years ago (in 2012), the council includes members who represent law enforcement, public defenders, prosecutors, probation officers, the Clerk of Court, the judiciary and the county Health and Human Services Department.

Circuit Court Judge James Babler told the group that he’d heard the governor’s office has asked for applications to be filed no later than May 23.

“Normally, the chief deputy would take over immediately, but how soon we have a sheriff is up to the governor,” he said.

“This will substantially impact the justice system,” Babler said. “But there’s not a void, there’s a process.”

Whomever becomes the new sheriff, it’s hoped he (or she) will follow the “collaborative process” which Fitzgerald pursued as a member of the council, Babler added.

“Groups like ours don’t work in every county,” he said. “My hope is we will have a sheriff who is willing to work with other (stakeholders). We’ve been lucky that it’s been a collaborative system here.”

County Administrator Jeff French echoed Babler’s thoughts.

“I visit often with Chris,” he said. “We talk on the phone frequently, sometimes at 2 or 3 in the morning.”

French said he agreed with one of Fitzgerald’s most-repeated thoughts – the hope that every member of the Sheriff’s Department comes home safe after every work shift.

“I hope it doesn’t happen, but the governor could appoint someone from across the state,” French added. “Cooperation is important.”