Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig
“The number one need at the County Jail is people, specifically deputies and corrections staff.”
Manitowoc County Sheriff Dan Hartwig made that comment during a recent visit to WOMT’s Be My Guest program.
“Back when I started 24 years ago … there’s usually about 300 people applying for jobs. Now, we’re to the point where continually keeping our processes open, especially on the corrections side. We’re hiring for corrections.” He added, “We have not had the jail fully staffed since 2013, so it’s been about nine years.”
Hartwig offered one reason why, saying, “The private sector is kind of killing us right now. There are jobs everywhere. A lot of places are offering incentives and we just need some good people of good moral character to work in our jail.”
As far as law enforcement staff, the Sheriff says, “We’re doing pretty good,” but it’s been tough to “overcome the narrative recently that’s been pounding on law enforcement,” to the point where they “don’t want to get into the field or the [public] scrutiny that comes with it.”
The city’s support of its law enforcement officers should be seen as a major incentive for potential candidates, according to Hartwig.
“We’re very fortunate here in Manitowoc. We have a lot of community support.” Adding, “We have a community that supports law and order, and we just need some good people in our positions to keep getting those people in our doors that want to have a good, successful career in a community that supports them.”
This week has been designated National Despatchers Week. The county’s top law enforcement official calls them “the first and vital line of service to our community.”
