MONROE — Green County officials honored retiring sheriff Jeff Skatrud at their regular county board meeting June 11, as the county awaits the naming of a replacement for him from Gov. Tony Evers.

“It was my distinct honor and privilege to thank Jeff (Skatrud) publicly for his public service over four decades,” said Green County Board Chairman Jerry Guth. “He will be deeply missed.”

Skatrud joined the department in 1981 as a patrol deputy, after starting his career as a Shullsburg police officer in 1979. He became chief deputy in 2002 and was elected in November 2010 to a four-year term as sheriff, taking over after Randy Roderick decided not to seek another term.

Indeed, Guth said Skatrud’s tenure followed a tradition of quality leadership within the county sheriff’s department in recent decades.

“Green County has been very fortunate to have had excellent sheriffs,” he said. “The tone is set from the top … and we’ve had good, caring public servants like Sheriff Skatrud.”

Skatrud said he will leave the sheriff’s office in good hands, including those of recently named Chief Deputy Cody Kanable. But it will be up to Evers, a democrat, to appoint a replacement to serve the remaining two years of Skatrud’s term.

Guth declined to comment on the selection process for the new sheriff, saying it is a partisan post and up to Evers alone to select a temporary sheriff; and then Green County voters to vote on a new one in the next election.

Skatrud, though, has said he hopes the governor will consider appointing Kanable to the job. 

Kanable was appointed as the next Chief Deputy and began his new assignment on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Kanable has served with the Green County Sheriff’s Office since May 15, 2008.