WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) — The Sheriff of Wood County retires after leading the department for over 13 years.
The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune is reporting that Sheriff Thomas Reichert has retired from the force after serving Wood County for 37 years. Reichert did not seek re-election for his position in November after 13 years in the position. Shawn Becker will become the new Sheriff after winning November’s election, taking Reichert’s position.
Reichert hopes that the people of Wood County will remember him for the accomplishments that happened during his tenure, not issues from his last month in office. He says that the department is in better shape for Becker than it was when he took the position in 2005.
The issues Reichert refers to include when he shut down the volunteer Sheriff’s Rescue group. The group was reinstated in December but could still lose funding beyond 2019. Reichert also filed a civil lawsuit against the county for 1,000 hours of unused sick time.
Reichert’s accomplishments as sheriff include cutting jail expenses by hiring part-time retired officers to transport inmates to other jails. He also started an electronic monitoring system in 2007 to reduce the jail population and contracted with Waupaca County to house inmates at a small cost.
The department itself also replaced its vehicles during his time as sheriff. The new vehicles also include some of the best technology in the state for a police agency. The department officers were also remodeled during his tenure.
Reichert told the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune that the department maintained a balanced budget during his time as sheriff. He also states that the department returned over $4 million to the county.
Reichert will work past his retirement but will be moving into the construction and remodeling business. He and his wife will be moving to southwest Florida where his wife has a job as the communications director for the city of Punta Gorda. His new business will specialize in applying concrete coatings to floors in garages.
He and his wife will keep a home in Wisconsin Rapids and plan to come back often. Reichert told the Daily Tribune, “I had such wonderful people supporting me and such wonderful folks stepping up to help me. I’m going to miss being here at work and just being with the employees we had here.”
