Gov. Evers Appoints Kalvin D. Barrett as Dane County Sheriff

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today appointed Kalvin D. Barrett as Dane County Sheriff. The appointment fills a vacancy created by Sheriff David J. Mahoney’s resignation, effective May 8, 2021. Barrett will complete the remainder of the term which ends January 2, 2023.

“With 12 years of service as a law enforcement officer, Kalvin Barrett is a dedicated public servant,” said Gov. Evers. “I am confident he will be an effective, empathetic leader in Dane County and will work to ensure the safety of and collaboration with every community he serves.”

Barrett served as Dane County Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2011, and as an officer with the Sun Prairie Police Department from 2011 to 2016. He is currently a law enforcement officer at Wisconsin State Fair Park and teaches law enforcement and criminal justice at Madison College where he is the faculty director of the criminal justice studies program. He is also a workplace violence and active threat response consultant. Barrett earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2004 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Master’s degree in criminal justice from American Public University in 2020.

“I congratulate Governor Evers and the selection committee on their work to find the best appointee, who has the community ties and commitment to fair and impartial law enforcement. Someone with a passion for community engagement on issues, who will guide the Sheriff’s Office into the future with equitable and equal justice for all citizens,” said Sheriff Mahoney. “Kalvin Barrett will serve our community well, guided by the core values of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.”

“I am excited Kalvin Barrett will be our next Dane County Sheriff.  I know he will work to keep us safe and strengthen the relationships between law enforcement and all our communities in Dane County,” said State Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison).

“Thank you, Governor Evers, for appointing me to serve the people of Dane County as our sheriff. As sheriff, I will continue the community and law enforcement engagement collaboration that has been the foundation of the sheriff’s office,” said Barrett. “I am excited to bring to the job my perspective as an African American professional who has experience in the field as a peace officer, in the jail as a sheriff’s deputy, and as someone who has educated and trained the next generation of peace officers.”

Barrett was overwhelming recommended for the appointment by a diverse, blue ribbon panel of community and law enforcement leaders, which consisted of: Anthony Burrell, the superintendent of the Wisconsin State Patrol; David Erwin, the chief of the Wisconsin Capitol Police; Earnell Lucas, the sheriff for Milwaukee County; Reisha Mitchell, an administrative law judge and former public defender; Ryan Nilsestuen, the governor’s chief legal counsel; Aissa Olivarez, the managing attorney for the Community Immigration Law Center; and Teran Peterson, a Dane County Board Supervisor and member of the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee.

A photo of Barrett is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.