MONROE — Greater love has no one than this, the Biblical admonition goes, “that one lay down his life for his friends.”
And that’s just what lifelong Monroe resident Det. Sgt. Dan Skatrud has done his entire life in this small but vibrant city — serving for 38 years as police officer, culminating in his recent retirement.
“I started here and I finished here,” said Skatrud. “I’m happy about that.”
His last day on the job, bittersweet for the lifelong lawman, was March 23. Since then, well-wishes and sentiments of gratitude have been pouring in, including from his brother, Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud.
“Very proud of my brother,” the sheriff posted on his own Facebook page, along with a picture to mark the occasion.
The detective also was honored for his distinguished service by the Monroe Common Council at last Monday’s regular meeting, where Mayor Donna Douglas praised him for his “invaluable contribution” to the community. He was presented with an inscribed clock and lauded by city officials for his work on behalf of the town.
“It was definitely an honor,” Skatrud said.
Indeed, being one half of that local dynamic law enforcement duo has been especially rewarding, Skatrud says, as he has been able to cultivate relationships — with other officers and the general public — that would be impossible to sustain in a big-city, high violent crime environment.
Together the brothers have created a legacy of public safety in Monroe.
“You don’t get a chance to bond with the people (in the big city),” Dan said. “Those big cities, you just run from call to call.”
As a Skatrud family, they really take the motto “to protect and to serve” to heart — Dan Skatrud’s spouse, Ann, also works for the department as an administrative secretary to Monroe Chief Fred Kelley.
Kelley said Monroe officials sent the young recruit Dan Skatrud to the police academy nearly 40 years ago; and the two have worked closely together to fight crime here ever since.
“I have only nice things to say about Dan Skatrud,” said Kelley. “He’s an excellent officer, a good trainer, a fine detective, and a good supervisor…he’s been an officer, a patrol corporal, a patrol sergeant and for the last decade or so detective sergeant.”
Though there have been countless cases that stand out as Skatrud reflects on his career, it was a very recent theft case, he said left, that left an indelible impression on him. It was a very complex and at times emotional case involving thefts from cemeteries over a wide area of the county and neighboring counties.
Following months’ long probe into the thefts of mementos, solar lights and other graveside items, police charged Carrie A. Thompson with many of the thefts. She is awaiting trial
The defendant, authorities allege, would steal the items from graves and resell them on Facebook.
Kelley praised Skatrud’s work to seek justice and reunite family with their items, adding that the case was especially unfortunate, given that many of the items taken were of symbolic value. A 40-count county criminal complaint for the thefts was filed in Green County, but Thompson also was suspected in similar crimes across Lafayette and Rock Counties.
For months, Skatrud was gathering evidence and stolen property and interviewing grieving family members traumatized by the cemetery thefts.
“I had never really encountered anything that large,” said Skatrud. “It was gratifying… and as far as my career, it was a good way to end it.”
Now that his work is done at the police department, Skatrud said he’ll be spending time at another favorite local institution — the Monroe Golf Club — “just something to keep busy” in retirement.