By Brian Gray
bgray@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - Jim Erb's voice is probably familiar to some in the area even if his face isn't.
Erb retired as a dispatcher for the Green County Sheriff's Department Wednesday after more than 28 years. He was a dispatcher on the 3 to 11 p.m. shift the entire time. People who listen to police scanners often heard him sending deputies, ambulances or firefighters to calls throughout the county.
People recognized his voice, but they didn't know what he looked like.
"I've had people stop me in line at the store and tell me they recognized my voice," Erb said, with a laugh.
Erb always wanted to be a police officer. It could be said that law enforcement is a family tradition. His grandfather was a Green County Sheriff's deputy and his father was a special deputy with the department. His brother is the police chief in Monticello and his niece and her husband work at the sheriff's department.
Erb worked in Monticello and New Glarus and was an Auxiliary Police Officer in Monroe during the 1960s. He was a part-time deputy for the sheriff's department in the 1970s, helping out at special events when more deputies were needed.
He was hired full-time at the department in February 1982.
A lot has changed since he started working at the sheriff's department. Calls to the dispatchers are recorded, new technology enables dispatchers to find the exact locations of vehicle crashes or emergencies.
When he first started as a dispatcher it was common to tell a deputy on duty to go to a certain landmark and turn in order to get to an accident scene. Now the dispatchers are able to use more specific locations.
Erb always liked the 3 to 11 p.m. shift, he said. It's a busy shift, but it allowed him time to enjoy hunting and fishing, he said with a smile.
He is highly competent, courteous, calm and helpful, Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said.
"He's exhibited these traits along with compassion, understanding and professionalism," he said.
The sheriff's department dispatchers provide dispatching and communication services for sheriff's deputies, 13 area fire departments, eight emergency medical service units and local police departments.
Erb said he has plenty to do to keep himself busy in retirement, including more hunting and fishing.
"I've enjoyed working here," he said. "I've met a lot of great people."
bgray@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - Jim Erb's voice is probably familiar to some in the area even if his face isn't.
Erb retired as a dispatcher for the Green County Sheriff's Department Wednesday after more than 28 years. He was a dispatcher on the 3 to 11 p.m. shift the entire time. People who listen to police scanners often heard him sending deputies, ambulances or firefighters to calls throughout the county.
People recognized his voice, but they didn't know what he looked like.
"I've had people stop me in line at the store and tell me they recognized my voice," Erb said, with a laugh.
Erb always wanted to be a police officer. It could be said that law enforcement is a family tradition. His grandfather was a Green County Sheriff's deputy and his father was a special deputy with the department. His brother is the police chief in Monticello and his niece and her husband work at the sheriff's department.
Erb worked in Monticello and New Glarus and was an Auxiliary Police Officer in Monroe during the 1960s. He was a part-time deputy for the sheriff's department in the 1970s, helping out at special events when more deputies were needed.
He was hired full-time at the department in February 1982.
A lot has changed since he started working at the sheriff's department. Calls to the dispatchers are recorded, new technology enables dispatchers to find the exact locations of vehicle crashes or emergencies.
When he first started as a dispatcher it was common to tell a deputy on duty to go to a certain landmark and turn in order to get to an accident scene. Now the dispatchers are able to use more specific locations.
Erb always liked the 3 to 11 p.m. shift, he said. It's a busy shift, but it allowed him time to enjoy hunting and fishing, he said with a smile.
He is highly competent, courteous, calm and helpful, Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said.
"He's exhibited these traits along with compassion, understanding and professionalism," he said.
The sheriff's department dispatchers provide dispatching and communication services for sheriff's deputies, 13 area fire departments, eight emergency medical service units and local police departments.
Erb said he has plenty to do to keep himself busy in retirement, including more hunting and fishing.
"I've enjoyed working here," he said. "I've met a lot of great people."