Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk is hanging up his badge for Chippewa County.

The decision to retire, an – nounced last week, brings to an end a 44-year career in law enforcement, of which the last 15 have been served as Sheriff. We caught up with Kowalczyk as he shared some of how he made the decision, and what’s ahead now that the Stanley-Boyd Class of 1974 graduate, is stepping down from sheriff duties.

“I’ll have some time to think about and see," Kow –

alczyk said. "What I'll prob ably end up doing is going back to work," next clarifying that this wouldn’t be in law enforcement. As to why now, Kowalczyk also said that he wanted to be at the sporting and other events of his grand- kids.

"My wife retired two years ago,” he said, adding that he had a hunting cabin and property on the Chippewa

Flowage to attend to. So how did Kowalczyk get involved with law enforcement work? It turns out from a sumer job.

“I graduated with the Class of 1974," Kowalczyk said of high school, then going on to do construction work at Bloomer. Some of the local police officers would come in to a diner he frequented and talk about their work. The next spring Kowalczyk en –

rolled for a two-year associ – ate's degree in police science out at Green Bay. Following graduation he was hired on by Cadott for six months, from June 1977 to February 1978. From that point to the present,

he's worked with the Sheriff's Department, the last 15 years as sheriff.

"I want to thank Chippewa County for the opportunities they’ve allowed me to have,” Kowalczyk said. "I've "I wouldn't change a thing." To date Travis Hakes and Chris Kowalczyk have filed to replace the retiring sheriff on the force. Chris Kowalczyk is Jim’s younger brother, while Hakes is a part-time officer at Cornell. Following the fall election, a new Chippewa County sheriff will be sworn in the second Tuesday of Jan – uary 2023, just ten months out.

Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk. Image courtesy Chippewa Sheriff's

Department website.