By Press Times Staff
HOBART – The number of people in the audience for a village board meeting was larger than normal Tuesday, Dec. 3, when a swearing-in ceremony took place for a new Hobart-Lawrence police officer.
Current Hobart-Lawrence police officers and several family members were on hand when Ian Schiefelbein, who is originally from the Brule area in northwest Wisconsin and has been working as a jailer at the Brown County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, was sworn in by Hobart Village Clerk-Treasurer Mary Smith.
His wife, Chelsea, whom he married last year, pinned on his badge during the ceremony.
Schiefelbein has a brother, Aaron, who is a nine-year veteran of the Eau Claire Police Department.
“From the first ride-along I did with my brother, I knew my passion was law enforcement,” Schiefelbein said. “I am looking forward to serving and being a part of the communities of Hobart and Lawrence.”
Schiefelbein grew up on a small hobby farm outside of Brule with his seven siblings, two sisters and five brothers, and was home-schooled from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Most of his time growing up was spent in the woods, hunting and fishing, and playing sports (basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball).
He first started working in restaurants and spent a summer working in Alaska on a gas line.
In the fall of 2014, he moved to Green Bay and started college at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, where he graduated in December 2016 with an associate’s degree in criminal justice-law enforcement with a GPA of 3.95.
Throughout college, Schiefelbein worked as a security officer and, after graduating, worked part time for the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department.
Most recently, he has been working at the Brown County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, where he is ending his employment this month to join the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department and will begin Dec. 14.
Police Chief Randy Bani said Schiefelbein will also be sworn Monday, Dec. 9, in Lawrence.
Schiefelbein fills a vacancy in the department, which will also be looking to hire another officer next year because of the number of officers being increased for 2020.