BARRON COUNTY — Governor Tony Evers is officially seeking applicants to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position of Barron County Sheriff, following the recent announcement by longtime Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald that he will retire on June 1, 2025. The Governor’s Office released the call for applications on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The new sheriff will be appointed to serve out the remainder of Fitzgerald’s current term, which ends in January 2027. Interested individuals are encouraged to complete the “Register of Deeds, Coroner, and Sheriff” application form available on the Governor’s “Apply to Serve” webpage at www.evers.wi.gov. The deadline for submission is Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel at GOVSheriffAppointments@wisconsin.gov or by calling (608) 266-1212.
This announcement follows Fitzgerald’s formal resignation, which he shared in a letter to the Governor late last week. In a heartfelt public statement issued Monday, Fitzgerald expressed deep gratitude to the community and announced his plans to transition into a new role with Mosaic Technologies, where he will begin working in public relations.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for your incredible support throughout my time as Sheriff,” Fitzgerald stated. “My department is in a great spot where my departure will not affect the direction it is going and where a smooth transition can occur.”
Fitzgerald, who has served as Barron County Sheriff for 17 years and spent a total of 28 years in law enforcement, further discussed his retirement during a live episode of Positive Tuesday W/ Ben & Fitzy on May 6, 2025. The episode drew strong community engagement as viewers tuned in to hear the Sheriff reflect on his career, challenges, and accomplishments.
“It’s been the honor of my life to serve this community, but it’s time for the next chapter,” Fitzgerald said during the show, which he co-hosts with DrydenWire founder Ben Dryden.
With the application process now underway, the community awaits the appointment of a new sheriff to lead the Barron County Sheriff’s Department into its next chapter.
For those who missed Fitzgerald’s farewell episode, it is available for replay on DrydenWire’s YouTube channel, Facebook Watch, or stream it below.
Last Update: May 07, 2025 12:53 pm CDT
