BLANCHARDVILLE - Walt Fischer has helped the transition from having a full-time police chief to having a Lafayette County Sheriff's Deputy patrol Blanchardville an easy one, Village President Dennis Marty said.
Fischer, who retired from a full-time job with the sheriff's department in 2000 after 27 years on the force, is now the only law enforcement in Blanchardville.
His duties began Jan. 1.
In December the village board voted to eliminate its police department and contract with the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department for village law enforcement. It's something about 40 other small communities, including the village of Benton, have done over the past few years, Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said.
Fischer does a little bit of everything during the 40 hours a week he's in the village.
He handles law enforcement, assists motorists, spends time talking to citizens and being someone the community can trust.
Fischer takes the job seriously but still keeps a sense of humor.
"I'm wearing blue jeans because my uniform pants are on backorder," he laughed.
Fischer used to patrol the east side of Lafayette County; getting to know the village wasn't a problem. If something seems out of place, chances are he knows about it.
"It's an advantage because I know what's usual and what's not usual," he said.
"He knows the area like the back of his hand," Pedley joked.
One of the concerns people had when Blanchardville replaced Police Chief Jim Soley was that a new person wouldn't know the village.
That isn't the case with Fischer.
A lot of people already knew him from his years with the sheriff's department and his years working at the Argyle Police Department, Marty said.
"When Scott and I first talked about it, I told him I wanted someone who knew the area," Marty said. "Walt made this an easy transition."
Fischer's hours are determined by Marty, who makes a monthly schedule for him. The hours vary as Marty determines when law enforcement in the village is most needed.
While Blanchardville may no longer have a full-time police chief, there is still a police presence in town, Marty said.
People can still call the police department; if Fischer isn't on duty the calls are handled by the sheriff's department. If it's something that can't wait, a neighbor dispute over shoveling snow, for example, Fischer responds.
The key for the transition to work, and to continue to work well, is communication, Fischer and Marty said.
Communication also helps Fischer in his daily tasks as village police officer.
"People treat you like you treat them," Fischer said.
Fischer, who retired from a full-time job with the sheriff's department in 2000 after 27 years on the force, is now the only law enforcement in Blanchardville.
His duties began Jan. 1.
In December the village board voted to eliminate its police department and contract with the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department for village law enforcement. It's something about 40 other small communities, including the village of Benton, have done over the past few years, Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said.
Fischer does a little bit of everything during the 40 hours a week he's in the village.
He handles law enforcement, assists motorists, spends time talking to citizens and being someone the community can trust.
Fischer takes the job seriously but still keeps a sense of humor.
"I'm wearing blue jeans because my uniform pants are on backorder," he laughed.
Fischer used to patrol the east side of Lafayette County; getting to know the village wasn't a problem. If something seems out of place, chances are he knows about it.
"It's an advantage because I know what's usual and what's not usual," he said.
"He knows the area like the back of his hand," Pedley joked.
One of the concerns people had when Blanchardville replaced Police Chief Jim Soley was that a new person wouldn't know the village.
That isn't the case with Fischer.
A lot of people already knew him from his years with the sheriff's department and his years working at the Argyle Police Department, Marty said.
"When Scott and I first talked about it, I told him I wanted someone who knew the area," Marty said. "Walt made this an easy transition."
Fischer's hours are determined by Marty, who makes a monthly schedule for him. The hours vary as Marty determines when law enforcement in the village is most needed.
While Blanchardville may no longer have a full-time police chief, there is still a police presence in town, Marty said.
People can still call the police department; if Fischer isn't on duty the calls are handled by the sheriff's department. If it's something that can't wait, a neighbor dispute over shoveling snow, for example, Fischer responds.
The key for the transition to work, and to continue to work well, is communication, Fischer and Marty said.
Communication also helps Fischer in his daily tasks as village police officer.
"People treat you like you treat them," Fischer said.